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DICTIONARY 



MODERN GREEK PROVERBS. 



DICTIONARY 



MODERN GREEK PROVERBS, 



AX ENGLISH TRANSLATION, EXPLANATORY REMARKS, 
AND PHILOLOGICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 



ALEXANDER NEGRIS, 

PROFESSOR OF GREEK LITERATURE, 

Editor of the Orations on the Crown, 
Author oi 




EDINBURGH : 

THOMAS CLARK, 38, GEORGE STREET. 
MDCCCXXXI. 



r 



fit* 



Edinburgh ;— Duncan Stevenson, 
Printer to the University. 



PREFACE. 



Some Readers may expect to find in this Pre= 
face, a dissertation upon the beauty of the Greek 
language ; the extent and variety of its literature ; 
the number and excellence of its Poets, Histo- 
rians, Orators, and Philosophers, to whom suc- 
ceeding ages have been so much indebted, and to 
whom the most enlightened nations have always 
paid the greatest homage. 

Such an eulogy might perhaps have been ne- 
cessary during those dark ages when literature 
slept, or was stifled, amid the empire of barba- 
rism; but since, in the present day, no one disputes- 
its being the most beautiful language that men 
have ever spoken, as it is without question the 
most interesting and valuable ; (for what literary 
productions are there which can be compared 
with those of Greece, the birth-place, cradle, 
and school of Genius !) the encomium would be 
quite superfluous, especially as it is considered in 
almost every civilized country, as one of the 
most important parts of a liberal education. 



To speak of modern Greek by itself, without 
mentioning the ancient, of which it constitutes 
an inseparable part, would be the same thing as 
to discuss the qualities of the branch of a tree, 
without taking into consideration the parent stem 
from which it is derived. 

Greek, from the most remote period to our 
own times, forms but one language ; a language 
which perhaps is the most rich, the most ex- 
pressive, and the most agreeable to the ear; yet 
also that which is the most complicated, from 
its various idioms and its ambiguous construc- 
tions. These naturally arise in a great measure 
from its literature embracing so extensive a pe- 
riod ; since Authors, who have written in dif- 
ferent epochs, must necessarily exhibit in their 
works some variations and peculiarities of style, 
such as take place in every country from the 
same causes ; the extent of which must depend 
upon the longer or shorter duration of time, and 
the nature of those events which operate upon 
the tastes, customs and manners of a people. 

It may well be imagined how insurmountable 
these difficulties must appear to students, who, 
after they have diligently pursued the course 
prescribed to them, perhaps for years, and are in 
reasonable expectation of reaping the reward of 
their labours in the possession of valuable know- 
ledge, find themselves scarcely at all advanced. 
Their time and exertions appear to have been 
thrown away, (as in some respects they really 
have been,) and a disgust is frequently contracted 
towards the study of the language itself, that 



may endure for the rest of their lives : and, after 
all, they have only accomplished what they might 
have acquired in a comparatively short space 
of time under a Teacher familiar with the ge- 
nius of the language, and able to smooth the 
rugged path to knowledge, by removing obsta- 
cles and obscurities. When I speak of the diffi- 
culties of the Greek, I consider it in a point of 
view entirely different from that elementary 
knowledge which is ordinarily attained ; and feel 
confident that, were the true path pursued, it 
would appear even more easy of acquirement 
than that of many modern languages. 

The prejudices which prevail on this subject, 
arise in a great degree from ignorance of the 
relation between the ancient and modern Greek. 
It is indisputable, however, that the Greeks who 
study their own language, may attain more easily 
than foreigners not merely the knowledge ne- 
cessary for theoretical and speculative research- 
es, but such as may render them proficient in 
the higher and more useful departments of 
Greek literature. Born in a land where a 
dialect of the language is spoken, familiar with 
it from infancy, they possess the clew of Ariadne 
to lead them through those labyrinths of diffi- 
culties and impediments, in which Critics often 
err and lose themselves, while groping in the 
dark they seek a way to get out, with perhaps 
little more than the blind guidance of conjec- 
ture. The numerous productions of Coray are 
sufficiently well known to the Literati, to render 
it unnecessary to enlarge upon this point, 



The spoken dialect, comprising all the ad- 
vantages of the ancient, as rich, as flexible, as 
sonorous, but more simple, and consequently 
more easy than those in which the immortal 
chefs-d-ceicvres of our ancestors are written, is at 
this day so much studied by a great number of 
Scholars, from their being convinced that its 
acquisition is essential to the full comprehen- 
sion of the ancient, that I could, without difficul- 
ty, mention celebrated German Hellenists, who 
know it almost as well as their native tongue. 
Its utility under other relations ; the original 
works of which its modern literature can boast ; 
the honour even of speaking a dialect of the lan- 
guage of Homer, of Thucydides, of Sappho, ought 
not to be feeble stimulants in rendering its acqui- 
sition more general, and extending it to the fair 
sex, who, it is to be hoped, will not be much 
longer excluded from the study of Greek ; which, 
taught as a living language, (and such it is, with 
the ancient pronunciation, instead of the modern 
innovation of Erasmus, which was never living 
but with its inventor and those who walked in 
his steps ; and if it be still retained is only on 
account of prejudice,) would appear no more pe- 
dantic or ridiculous from their lips than from 
those of the well-educated ladies of Greece, a- 
mong whom there are some who can recite en- 
tire books of Homer by heart, and who write 
the ancient Greek, with as much elegance, pu- 
rity, and facility, as ever flowed from female 
pen during the most classic sera of Grecian lite- 



rature, when the vivifying rays of inspiration 
shed their most genial influence. 

Every thing then that facilitates this study is 
a service rendered to public instruction, and can 
scarcely fail to be favourably received by those 
who have that object in view. It is this consi- 
deration which induces me to publish this Dic- 
tionary of Proverbs ; a title which may in itself 
perhaps suggest the idea of a dry uninteresting 
work — a reproach, however, that I venture to 
hope this little volume will not be found to de- 
serve ; since, in addition to its main object, that 
of bringing together a collection of national pro- 
verbs in alphabetical order, it is diversified by 
the introduction of explanatory illustrations, 
anecdotes, and traditions ; some, indeed, with 
no higher aim than the amusement and relaxa- 
tion of the reader; others, and I think they 
form the greater part, calculated to give infor- 
mation upon the habits and opinions of the peo- 
ple, both civil and domestic. 

These can never be exhibited in a form so 
compendious and unvarnished as by a work like 
the present, in which, so far from aiming at or- 
nament, the vulgar style, which popular proverbs 
every where preserve, and which a pure prose 
voluntarily rejects, has been scrupulously ad- 
hered to. Nor am I apprehensive that on 
this account, the morality or good taste of my 
countrymen will appear in an unfavourable light, 
notwithstanding some unrefined expressions 
which were unavoidable. 

The maxims of experience in all countries 



bear the same homely character ; deduced from 
plain facts, destitute of embellishment, and the 
graces of imagination ; they are calculated for 
general utility, of which a nearer approach to 
elegance would render them incapable. 

They are level to the capacity of the poor and 
uneducated, to whom they serve as a manual of 
moral and prudential aphorisms, by which they 
may form their opinions, and regulate their con- 
duct ; while to those of more cultivated intellect, 
they are recommended by their truth and sim- 
plicity : as the proprietor of the finest gardens 
will often stop to admire the hedge-rose or the 
hare-bell, the spontaneous and uncultivated pro- 
ductions of nature. 

With regard to the translation, which I have 
endeavoured to render as literal as possible, in 
order that it may be serviceable to those who 
wish to study the Greek language as it is now 
spoken, it has not been altogether unattended 
with trouble or difficulty ; sometimes arising, 
no doubt, from my not being more familiar with 
the English idiom, but principally from my anx- 
iety, that it should be simply the vehicle of the 
Greek ; not merely of the sense, but of the con- 
struction also. 

If, in the prosecution of this design, I shall be 
found sometimes to have given it an appearance 
not quite so advantageous as might otherwise 
have been the case, the object I have had in 
view will, I doubt not, be taken into considera- 
tion, and form a sufficient apology. 



Should the success not altogether answer the 
attempt, I may at least be permitted to hope that 
the friends of Greek literature will regard this 
little work with some degree of interest and fa- 
vour ; at all events, in whatever light it may be 
considered, if it should prove of any utility to 
the Public, my intention will be fully answered, 
and I shall have all the recompense for my 
labour which I desire to receive. 



DICTIONARY 



GREEK PROVERBS. 



Aydkt dydki Ityvrzuiv o <poovif/,o; dpvriXt, sc dydki 
dydkt lyivi-To h dyovo'iba. (a'iXi. — By little and 
little a prudent husbandman planted a vineyard ; 
by little and little the young grapes from verjuice 
became sweet as honey : — To do a thing well, there 

ought not to be too much haste This agrees with 

the Italian proverb — Chi va piano va sano ; chi 
va sano va lontano. 

'Aya-rdu <r« y.do}a.[Ace.. — He loves cresses : — A fool's 
motto. 

' Aydvra, h Jk'^a rov %ooov, r,vei x,a) dvtioa. ku si (/?■£,■;. 
— Mary was fond of dancing, and got a fiddler 
for her husband : — Applied to those who succeed 
according to their wishes. 

' Ayxtfct rov <pikov trov ftl ro ikarrtyftd rov. — Love 
your friend with his foible : — Because no one is 
without his faults. 

' Ayikarro; trirocc. — The stone that never smiles : — 
To express the signs of grief. Ceres overwhelmed 
with sorrow for the loss of her daughter Proser- 
pine, wandered about in search of her in the dis- 
guise of an old woman. She came at length to 
1—5 A 



Eleusis, where she sat down on a stone, which 
was afterwards called, a.yi\a>rro$ niT^u.. 

" A.ytv(>u, du,u.uff/invc&, tfixoals Ikaictt;.— Unripe prunes, 
bitter olives : — Applied to those who are always 
saying bitter things. 

" Ayov^o; srgo&vtifrbs ya Xoyov rov yvgivzt. — He that 
solicits for another in a disagreeable manner, is 
making interest for himself. 

J 'Ayt>io; iXiuSzQia,. — Savage liberty : — Applied to 
anarchy, or rather to such liberty as savages enjoy, 
which is established on the principle of bodily 
strength, and in which the weak become the prey 
of the strong. 

'A^uvtoi Knvroi. — Gardens of Adonis : — Applied to 
what soon decays. This proverb derived its origin 
from the ancient custom of the Grecian ladies, 
who, in commemorating the death of Adonis, car- 
ried vases full of earth, mixed with the seeds of 
various vegetables, such as lettuce, fennel, &c. 
which having but little root soon perished. This 
ceremony alluded to the misfortune of the young 
lover of Venus, who was cut off in the flower of 
his age, and to the lettuce, on which she laid him 
after his death. 

"A$aea i%0gav to. ^u^a. — An enemy 's present is no 
favour : — In Greece this proverb is also used in 
another form. 'E^^ow ^a^nr^a Tzv hoKpieu a^ro 
Z i '/iuiu,v. — The gift of an enemy is no better than 
an injury. Virgil seems to have had the same 
sentiment in view, when, in his speech to the Tro- 
jans, dissuading them from receiving the wooden 
horse within their walls as a present from the 
Greeks, he makes Laocoon say, 

■ timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. 

5—10 



PROVERBS. 3 

'A-Tog pvitt.; oh -rtuv-t. — The eagle catches no flies : 
— That is, the great care not about small things. 
The word •rni.vin comes from muZ^u, Doric for 
Ti's^u. Tfieocritas Idyll. §'. v. 35. 

Tr,vii xa) tov rxugov air u^iog ays Tia.?xs. 

' A0diixroi %a,olruv xr,Ttn. — Unfading are the gar- 
dens of kindness : — Applied to those who remem- 
ber favours received. 

Alff%vvn Tokzat tfoX'irov auagria. — The disgrace of 
the city is the fault of the citizen. 

Aig-uthov oupct. — Blood of Esop : — In allusion to 
the manner of his death, it signifies innocent blood. 
See Suidas. 

AlffuTue; xoXoios. — Escp's jackdaw : — Applied to 
those who appropriate to themselves another's me- 
rits. 

'AxtQecXo; Xoyo;, — Headless speech : — To those who 
say silly things. 

"Axovitk <ri sc 'tdouffoc, I'i^a, ffi aai 'f-j^axra. — I heard 
you and teas terrified ; I saw you and was easy : 
— To those who at a distance inspire terror, but 
when near prove harmless. 

'Ak^iSo; koi \},i6<TT'/i; iygvyoga, ffvu.(pu)vovv. — A. miser 
and a liar bargain quickly : — The former is blind- 
ed by the prospect of gain ; the latter readily makes 
promises, without intending that they should ever 
be fulfilled. 

" AXcc? x.ou xovkiov. — Salt and bean : — To those 
who pretend to know with certainty what they 
can merely guess. It takes its rise from the cere- 
mony of the ancient diviners in throwing salt and 
bean, before predicting a future event. 

"AXXa. Xiyu, x uKXa w^arru. — He says one thing, 
and does another : — To those who fulfil not their 
11—20 



4 GREEK 

promises, or who easily change their projects. 
Another form is, ccXka Xiyn to ir^a/i, x aXXa, 
ve^arvu to ($(10.0*6. — He says one thing in the 
morning, and does another in the evening. 

" KXXu. v T& [autiu, tov Xoyov, %,' aXXa, tti; xovxxov- 
Quio? — The eyes of the hare are one thing, those 
of the oiol another : — Applied to those who com- 
pare things very different from each other. The 
word xovxK.ovZu.ia., is synonimous with yXov\, and 
signifies nurse of the cuckoo. It is said that the 
cuckoo, when she is about to lay her eggs flies 
to the nest of the owl, which, not seeing dur- 
ing the day, is terrified by the sudden flight, and 
shrinks in her nest, yielding place to the stranger. 
The cuckoo then rolls one of the owl's eggs from 
the nest, and leaves one of her own in its stead. 
The owl sits on all till the young are produced ; 
after which the cuckoo returns every day to visit 
its young one, until it is able to fly. The word 
(hoio., nurse, comes from Baja, a name which the 
ancient Romans gave to a nurse ; from a city of 
the same name which was famous for all kinds of 
luxuries. It was a Greek colony, and founded, ac- 
cording to some, by Bdios, one of the companions 
of Ulysses ( See Strabo, i, 26) whose name the city 
bears. It was here that Agrippina, the mother 
of Nero, dwelt, and where, by his orders, she was 
put to death. 

*AXXo Xiyw 'yo]> rnv B-itoiv pov, aXXo Xiy i/xtv a-vnn. 
, — J say one thing to my aunt, she says another to 
me : — To those who do not wish to understand 
what is said, and answer one thing for another. 
'Ep.lv for the Doric i/u.)v, of which the Attic is 
Iftoi. Thus by Theocr. Idyll, la,, v. 44. 

"A^iov h tuvt^m tree/) \fuv ray vvxtu licH^u;. 

20—22 



PROVERBS. O 

*AXXa§ ayavrdit tov TaTa, xa) S.XX6? t-/,v traffa- 

lua. The one loves the priest, the other the priest' 

ess : — The same thing does not please every body- 
In Latin, — De gustibus nil disputandum. 

"AXXo; to ttuo uvectyrsi, xa) aXXo; <r avef&t^u. — The 
one kindles the fire, the other blows it : — That is 
to say, one begins the evil, another increases it. 

"AXXo; %affx.ii, xa) aXXo; %a!pTU One gapes, and 

another gulps: — Said of those who obtain what 
others expected. 

" AXXo to va lor,;, xa) aXXo to v axevffy;. To see is 
one thing, to hear is another : — That is to say, 
we ought to place more confidence in seeing than 
hearing. A similar sentiment is to be found in 
Thucydides, Lib. «. § oy . Ka/ to, ftlv vrdvv <7fa- 
Xaid Tt l)i7 Xsyttv ; uv dxoa) [/.aXXov Xoyuv fjcderv- 
£i;, r, o\pst; tojv dxovffopzvwv ; 

'AXXov fJLi TgiSzi; ViffTOTa, xa) dXXov 2 i%M tov tt'ovov. 
— ^ You rub me, reverend sir, on one place, and I 
have the pain in another : — Sufferings are best 
known to those who feel them. 

'AXXov 'v to, xaoxaXto-fiaTa, xat aXXov yivvovv 55 
xoTTaig. — The hen cackles in one place, and lays 
her eggs in another. 

* AXXou; h yXwffffa, aXXov; to, "%'ovTia liovXivovv. — The 
tongue serves some, the teeth others : — The first 
part of the proverb is applicable to babblers, the 
last to gluttons. 

"AXXojv laTgle, -rX'/jyav kvto; yz/aaTo;. The healer 
of others is himself full of wounds : — To those 
who, making pretensions to virtue, and teaching it 
to others, are themselves vicious. 

'AXotftovov il$ tov /&h %voftzvov fnX Ta vu%td Tov. — 
Alas ! for him who scratches not himself with his 
23—31 



b GREEK 

men nails : — He is best served who is his own 
servant. 

' AXoiftovov its rov$ 'ha^yAvov?, Iv otru 01 x^itcu va sk- 
Sovv. — Alas ! for those who have been beaten, till 
the judges come: — Those who receive an injury 
ought to be speedily redressed 

" ApuGos fipuxh iQogsa, xdfa tfcirv/aaro S-dgm. — Ano~ 
vice was dressed in breeches, and looked at them 
every step : — He who is suddenly placed in a high 
situation knows not how to conduct himself pro- 
perly. 

' Ava'i<T%vvro$ xa) ffth'/iPivto;. — Impudent and from 
iron : — In other words, brazen-faced. 

3 Avxxarn>/u,iva (or IfAWtp^z/Ltiva,^) yviyara, xuxo'ulpa,- 
ffpivos. irotvid. — Ravelled yarn makes ill-woven cloth : 
— If due arrangements be not made at the com- 
mencement, the end will shew the defects. 

'Avdkara yikotx. — Unseasoned laughter: — against 
which the following maxim may be directed : 

Tikas uxuioos Iv (Zpotc7; liuvov xxxov. 

* Av @gi%n, Xdcrtfn y'mrxi. — If it rains, there is mud : 
— Applied to natural consequences. 

'Av Viv ira'tPiu^rjv, Tiv io-vfAVsOiPia^ov.. — If they had 
not been of the same mind, they had not inter- 
married their children : — To those who are al- 
ways of the same opinion. 
Av 1\v rivai votrov, a.$ nv xou TfciffTayivov. — If there 
is none fresh, let us have salted : — To those who 
content themselves with the second place. 

51 Av u-7ru to tfapdwovo you, Kiycd rnv ^ro^'ffn u-ov. — 
If I tell my complaint, I disclose my shame : — To 
those who receive an injury from their relations ; 
and through magnanimity conceal it, in order to 
prevent a stain on their family. 

" Av u%x rv £h ffgotrtpdyiHiv Ityrovv. — Iflhad cheese, 
31—4-1 



PROVERBS. 7 

/ would not ask any thing else to eat aloig with 
my bread: — To those who like frugality, and con- 
tent themselves with little. 

''Av ti% rt fid&a) ftu$ og%eiha, <rbv 'iXzyav fair ft ov. — 
If our grandmother were masculine, we icould 
call her grandfather : — Applied to thiiigs impos- 
sible. 

' Avi/u,of4.a.^tufMiroi, ta.t(/,o')oax.o^'7r'i(f(Ji.tt.ra. (or l>ia.voXo- 
irxog'z'itrfz.a.ra,). — ■ What the wind gathers, the Devil- 
scatters : — 111 come goods never stay. 

* AvtfAov rytyavHr/u-ivov, %iovt '$ to ircvSxi. — Fried 
wind, and snow on the spit : — Applied to trifles 
and impossibilities. 

"Av iQoGitr o Xuxo; <ri)v (Zgo%hv, vrigi'SXvftci tQogus 

If the wolf dreaded rain, he ivould wear a cloak : 
— To the brave who fear nothing. 
Av >j iu%a,i; aX'/ih'jeev, x o oiaKova^'/js <rXounvi. — If 
wishes ivere granted, even the beggar ivould become 
rich: — Wishes are freely given, but they make us 
neither richer nor poorer. Thus they say in 
English, If wishes were horses, beggars would 
ride. 

*Av 'kkouvj o Qio{ rov; x,o^a,x.a;, nroaTtohov sis viv 
xoo-fiov 2h %foXiv u<ro/*ziv'/i If God ivould listen- 
to the crows, not a quadruped ivould be left on the 
earth : — To the wicked and envious who utter vain 
imprecations against others. 

* Avfya/vro; civdg/>j<arou Xvxo;. — Man the wolf of man : ._ 
— One ought not to put too much confidence in 
an uuknown person. 

J AvfyoiTos woXv$ouXo$, Qzo; 5s fiovX-zixoTos. — Ulan 
has many projects, but God cuts them short: — 
To those who devise many plans, but are disap- 
pointed in their fulfilment by some unexpected ac- 
cident. This proverb suggests another which is 
41—49 



8 GREEK 

well known : aXXui fih fiovXu) a.vdgiv<rav, cikXu <5'e 
Sio; xiXiuiu 

' Av$ou<ttov <za.^a,xu,Xt(Ti$ lf/,oia.!^u V«v a.y y deduce. — 
The entreaties of man resemble statute-work : — 
To those who are obliged to satisfy the demands of 
their friends, for fear of censure. 

"Av xu0iff7i; [A ffroaZov, oj; to $(>u%u ya,Xiov^tZ,n$. — 
If you sit with one who squints, before the even- 
ing you will become cat-eyed : — Evil communica- 
tions corrupt good manners. The word yaXiou- 
^ca comes from yaky, a cat, from its looking 
crossways. 
A* KTVffa; fjbi xcti tov&j, xuraQovpai (TZ x \yai. — If 
you strike and hurt me, at least I may curse you ; 
— One not being able to avenge an injury, may 
utter prayers which sometimes seem to be rea- 
lized, like those of Chryses in the Iliad. 

:l As> nicy o ovgtzvc; ! — If the heavens fall! — Ironi- 
cally, to those who are ridiculously timid when 
there is nothing to fear. 

"Av o\ %,n~iio"/\ 'PraXiv x^affiov, fftpov^vkiav oo$ rov. — If 
he ask you for more wine, give him a blow: — Those 
who make improper requests incur evil : As the 
Cyclops, who asked more wine from Ulysses, till 
he became drunk, and was struck blind. 

* A v rov yXvxavYis, S-u xoXXr^'s rbv pd%'//v treu If 

you encourage him, he will stick to your back : — 
If you give one his desires too freely, you will have 
difficulty in checking his importunity. What 
Theocr. Idyll. I. v. 11, expresses by, 

— %a,\i<7rov %ogia)v xuvce yiveut. 

A proverbial expression which is also used, as his 
Scholiast observes, %x\trfov f^ahvira, xvcav o-xuro- 
rgayuv. And Idyll. $. v. 43 : 

"ESa xa) radios av' uXa*. 

49—55 



PROVERBS. 9 

'Ay tpruiu 'y&>, \o\ ffxacr o civoga; f/.ov' x,u) av <prnr/i 
ai/ros, va, ffKaff avro;. — If I am in fault, let my 
husband burst, and if the fault is his, let himself 
burst : — To those who are so exceedingly selfish, 
that they take not the smallest interest in the wel- 
fare even of their nearest relations. 

'A|/^£; n tccKccio'/cottx, ffu.£a.vra, 7ra)Xuzf<)ai;.— T'he 
old hen is icorth forty chickens : — There are ladies 
who, although old, are more attractive than many 
young ones. 

'A^/^s< o \vx; yta ixutov, kui zxktov outs z'ju,. — One 
may be worth a hundred, and a hundred not 
worth one : — It is in the same sense that this other 
proverb is used : olx iv too voXv to iv, aXX' iv tu> 
iZ to Trokv. — The quality is not in the quantity, 
but the quantity in the quality. 
At* a.ya.7rn too xaXod fjcov, "h\v tov uo^ ccv ''-X r/ } y^vtioi. 
— From the love of my beau, I did not observe 
ivhether he had a beard: — Ironically expressive of 
the disgust which is felt at the presence of one who 
is disagreeable to look upon. 

'Air^a»' h <jrw6ii>a. pou, x,a) rfXaTUv -h yavia pov.— 
My mother-in-law is dead, and my hearth is en- 
larged : — Used by those who get rid of any ob- 
stacle or incumbrance. 

'ATera|s to -ttuXIov kou IXv yv{>i£zu<—The bird hath 
flown away, and comes not back : — Every one 
ought to be watchful of his own concerns, lest he 
become a loser by inattention. 

' Ato ayxudi fiyuivzi po2ov, Kod aTo po%ov fiyuiv ay~ 
xa,8t. — From the thorn springs the rose, and from 
the rose the thorn : — Tins proverb is applied, when 
we see people of low birth raising themselves to 
eminence, and others of rank having nothing to 
boast of besides the names of- their ancestors, 
56—62 a 2 



10 GREEK 

'Awo %oO{>Xov nut f/,s$uir<rhv [/.uvdavus c»jv ukvhiav. — 
From the fool and drunkard you may learn the 
truth : — Regarding the latter the Italians say, II 
vino e una mezza corda. ' 

3 A<ro6a,[/Avov to Tovyy) uvatfoha yv^t^n The purse 

of the dead is turned inside out : — It often hap- 
pens that the property of the dead is wasted. 

'Atfo naaov ^^lutpiiXtT'/iv seal truxKtov a%upa, xuXo* 
thai. — From a bad debtor even a bag of straw is 
worth having. 

' 'Avfosigza tyiv iKiyav, xa.) |s^o •$/&>/& 'ir^ojyav. — They 
were calling it carnival, while they xoere eating dry 
bread : — To those who, through pride, conceal their 
poverty. 

'A<rofjca,H,^ri^a/^u^l <rv\v recym. — Fool, Jteep the corn 
farther off : — Applied to those who are wise be- 
hind hand, and try to correct a fault, when it is 
too late. The story is, that a muleteer half -starved 
his mule, and that one day he loaded it so heavily 
that it fell down from weakness. He unloaded it, 
and in vain tried to compel it to rise : he at last 
thought that he would succeed by flattery. So 
taking a handful of corn, he held it at a distance 
from the animal's mouth, but without success. 
The muleteer's comrade knowing his avarice, taunt- 
ed him with this proverb. Another version of 
which runs thus : TQwipa, uy^oixi rvjv ray/iv. — 
Clown, you should have given the corn sooner : ■ — 
i. e. Foresee the evil and provide against it. 

9 Asro fAYiXov u$ ulyov, vtx, scv^a Xopxavmov. — From an 
apple to an egg, here is a sausage, madam : — To 
those who are continually flying from one thing to 
another without the least connection. 
'Arfo 'fAtfgoo*0a xuXXia rov l%0gov, tfiig art ovr'iffM. — 
Better to have the enemy in front than in the 
63—69 



PROVERBS. 11 

rear : — To those who, under the mask of friend- 
ship, secretly seek our hurt ; and with whom it is 
far preferable to come to an open rupture, in order 
that, considering them as enemies, we may be on 
our guard against them ; also in English, a fair 
foe is better than a false friend. 
'Ato Tirgav us XiStl(>iov. — From the rock to the peb- 
ble : — To bad debtors who, under various pretexts, 
defer payment from time to time. 

'Ato tix^ocv xoXoxvvSnv [Ann xoXox'jv6'o(TToqov. Of 

a bitter gourd, use not even the seed : — The sons ' 
of tyrants and wicked persons ought not to be too 
freely trusted. 
'Ato tTTuvo r^tp^a tvffx'oXcas i£ycc%si£. — You can. 
scarcely pull a hair from a thin beard : — We can- 
not derive much advantage from oue who has little 
in his power. 
'Atq nro\ yivuoc, ffoQos. — His wisdom is in his beard : 
— To him who is wise in his own conceit. The 
English say, The wisdom 's in the wig. 
''Ato ra, xaXuic a way pivot. ivruigu o AidZoXo; rd (joktu., 
f£ t« x-axoZ; II xtti ccvtov rov voix.ox.VQnv. — Ofivhat 
is honestly acquired, the Devil gets the half; but 
together with ill got pelf, he takes also the posses- 
sor : — Unjust gain gives no advantage. 
'Ato <rhv S-vgav h u[toc.g?lct. — He goes wrong as soon 
as he enters .• — To those who, as soon as they be- 
gin to say or do any thing, commit faults. 
'Ato t'/iv ftdvocv as tjjv ftocftriv i^dQn to Taib'iov. — 
Between the mother and the midwife the child was 
lost: — To a theft committed between two per- 
sons. 
'Ato rhv roifta xoipaToit. — It hangs by a hair: — 
Used when one is observed in great danger. It is 
also said: fitot r%(%ei 'iXu\]/u— -Within a hair- 
69—77 



12 GREEK 

breadth: — Likewise by Theocr. Idytt.th'.v. 9. 
S-g)% ava piffffov. 

'Ato rr,v %&gav fiyuiv 'h xa.-yfoi.. — The cloak comes 
from the state : — To governors or judges who, by 
receiving presents, enrich themselves at the public 
expense. 

'Avr' o ti Qoou, xXi-zrrnv 2sv <po£itTui.—From his 
dress, he needs not fear the thief ; — To very poor 
people. 

'A>zro to akoyov '$ tov yahagov. — From the horse to 
the ass : — To those who from a higher situation 
willingly descend to a lower. 

'Avro to avTt -a il; tov ^cls-zaXov. — From the ear to 
the master : — To him who hears a lesson and is 
immediately able to repeat it — general application, 
no sooner said than done. 

'Ato to ~Ru.ybu.Ti sg%zTcu. — He cor/ies from Bagdad 
(the ancient Babylon) : — To those who are uncon- 
scious of common domestic occurrences. 

, Atto to yov^oimov sect) fx,iu, Tg'i%u, xaXn uvea. — From 
a swine, even a hair is a great deal : — To a miser- 
ly person who presenting a trifle thinks it of great 
value. 

'Ato to HBtpccXi [Zg/k)/x.o!.u to ipagi. — From the head 
the fish begins to stink : — The chiefs are often to 
be blamed for disorders which happen among the 
people. 

"Ato to Kurt'iov us <rov xXngov. — From the oar to the 
pulpit : — To those who from low condition unde- 
servedly arrive at honour and power. 

'A*8 tov ydpov igxop.u.i, xoCi tq'i(am aTo ttiv <xitva.v. 
— I come from the marriage, and am starving with 
hunger : — To those who are invited to a splendid 
77—86 



PROVERBS. 13 

entertainment, and, from a misplaced bashfulness, 
eat not according to their appetite. 

' ' Ato to (jto/jo. tov kou to S-Egf/ov xat to "$/v%()ov.— 
From his mouth both heat and cold : — To those 
who praise and condemn the same things. 

'Asro X-^ 1 $y K 'w Xoyo;, Tea.) tl; x,tXiovs xa.Ta.vTivit. 
— The word goes from the Up, and passes to thou- 
sands : — One who does not wish -a thing to be 
known should hold his peace ; for those whom 
he least suspects may be the means of publishing 
it. 

'At' tov AtuSokou tyiv ub}J/i, (/.'/it Iq'kQi (a'at cip-ji. — 
From the DeviVs farm, neither kids nor lambs : — 
All intercourse with the wicked, although appa- 
rently advantageous, wiii sooner or later prove pre- 
judicial. 
Aga.ta.is [AOLgais, x.ouxovva,oui$ xai n Tgvtfixi? vi %ov- 
Xidgocig. — Destructive hands, pine apples and per- 
forated spoons : — This string of words, which in 
the original has no other connection between the 
different parts, than the similarity of terminations, 
is applied to designate that sort of conversation 
which (on account of the frequent and inconsi- 
derate change of the subject) has as little import 
as the words of the proverb. 

'A^aVjj Xovn? You wash a negro: — That is, you 

try to correct a man who is incorrigible, and there- 
by lose your labour. 

'A£«;£vjjji v<pa.'ivsi. — He weaves a spider's web: — - 
To those who occupy themselves with trifles. 

'Agyu o @zo;, opus Tiv a.X'Ao-y.ova.a. — It is also said, h 
©so? agyii, dkXallv aX'/io-pavi?. — God delays, but 
does not forget : — The wicked shall not pass with 
impunity. 

'Agyvoo.To p,>Xv)/xx, x,pvgo to <ria>tfa.— -Discourse is 
86—94 



14 GREEK 

silver, silence is gold : — There is greater danger in 
saying too much than too little. 

" A^Ta^i^M <pa;, kcci xXiipz va,%'/ig Pillage to eat, 

and steal to keep : — Applied to those who support 
themselves and get rich, by robbery and theft. 

% A^moriqa. rns 1i§&igu.s Xiyu. — He speaks things 
older than parchment .-. — To those who relate cir- 
cumstances of great antiquity. This proverb is 
taken from ancient mythology, according to which 
it is said, that Jupiter wrote on a skin every occur- 
rence that took place in the world. 

"Atnco-pfos o vov;, "SivrXous o troves. An inconsiderate 

mind, double labour : — A wise man, by proper 
arrangement in business, is able to perform, with 
the greatest ease, what others are totally unable to 
accomplish. 

"A? <7ray/\ vo\ xou£iv'/ira,i. — Let him go and shear 
himself : — =It is also said, as Kovgivqrai, n as -^a- 
XititvriTxt. — Let him get himself shorn and clipped 
with scissors : — This expression is applied to one 
for whom we have no regard, and whom we dis- 
miss with contempt. 

" A<rtf(>viv yvajirtv tx,u. — He has a white understand- 
ing : — Metaphorically applied to one destitute of 
common sense. 

31 A<T7T(>ov iHvoci xa.) to %iovi. — The snozv also is white : 

- — To persons who are good looking, but of un- 
couth and disagreeable manners. 

"Ao-Tpog ffxvXXo;, (zav^os cavkkos. — A white dog, a 
black dog : — To those who are alike in wicked- 
ness. 

' Atrrgwz'uis (h^ovrais xai av axovffysi tcc vruktu, ffou 
fihv t cc(P'/io"/i;. — If you see ligntning or hear thun- 
der, abandon not your birds : — Tn cases of danger, 
every one should attend to his relations. 
94—102 



PROVERBS. '15 

"A<r%vfti fiou xui u.toi<zi f/.ou, — y.cci ri va <7tgearo<pa.ft.iv 
fyabv ; — O my ugly and unbecoming, — but what 
shall we commence with at supper ? — To persons 
whose money is their only merit, their manners 
and appearance being much against them. 
Avya, xa) o%i Tri^a. — Eggs, and not wings : — To 
those who make many promises, but seldom fulfil 
them. 
Avra,, xou Ta>\.' avra. — The same, and again the 
same : — To those who always repeat the same 
things. 
Avrvt n Taffr^a, rov fintrruu ! — See what cleanness he 

exhibits ! — Ironically to a dirty fellow. 
Auto <x'oo~a. Z,vyiu.Z, 11 '■> — How much does that weigh ? 
— Used to express extreme rusticity. The origin 
of the proverb is this : — A lady sent her servant 
to the post-office to inquire whether there were 
any letters for her. There was one, the postage of 
which, on account of the distance it had come, 
amounted to something considerable. The servant, 
afraid of being cheated, commenced an inquiry re- 
garding the price of letters, and observing one 
which had come from the neighbourhood, asked, 
How much does that cost according to its weight ? 
As she was told the price was a penny, she threw 
down the money, snatched up the letter, and ran 
home to her mistress quite overjoyed and delighted 
with her bargain. 
Avros f/A rhv rgiXtrtrotv rov, yifit^n rhv zoiktr<rav 
rov. — He with his foolery feeds his belly : — To 
one who plays the buffoon to gain a livelihood. 
Avros o x.cfJf,f(,ivos, us criH.off.ivos (pctivirsu. — That 
man when sitting, seems as if he were standing : 
, — To those who perform, with ease and expedition, 
103—109 



16 GREEK 

things which generally require much time and la- 
bour. 

'' A(p7iffi tov yd/xov, xa) vvyi £/« xdffruva. — He has 
left the marriage, and gone for chesnuts : — To 
those who unseasonably attend to trifles. 

'Atpogf&yiv Bjv i/%ctf/.zv, xat o Qios tyjv 'ivrtftipt. — JVe 
had no pretext, but God sent one : — To those who 
disingenuously contrive excuses for themselves. 

" A<P(> astro $ o xr,7Tog, %^/ipa <ru kci%uva. — A. garden 
being unenclosed, the cabbages disappear : — Negli- 
gence is punished. 

'AtpuXazrov h ayrXoT'/i;. — Simplicity unguarded : — 
The innocent being often unacquainted with tbe 
snares of the world are liable to fall a prey to man, 
as they cannot well know how to provide against 
dangers. 

' ACSvciKo; Trpay/^anvryig, xatidoBto; otccxovdoyis. — A 
merchant against nature, is nothing but a beggar : 
— Applied to those who acquire a fortune, though 
not by merit, and whose manners betray their for- 
mer condition. 



B 



B«^s t d<xo to sW, xat fiydks. r dvro r ciXXo. — 
Let it go in at the one ear, and out at the other : 
— i. e. give no attention to what he says. 

Bcix' aXiugi, zd/zi VTnav. — Knead meal, .and make a 
cake : — To those who pretend not to know how to 
accomplish any thing. 

B#/.' abya. xa) (oovtvcov, xa) zd[£ dzovoZoufti- — Mix 
eogs and butter, and make gravy for sharpening : 
109—117 



PROVERBS. 17 

—To those who feign excuses for not granting fa- 
vours. This proverb is said to have sprung from 
a soldier who used the expression to a country wo- 
man, when she refused him refreshment on pretence 
that she had nothing to give him. 
BxXs xkuVi 's ry)v yXuffiruv ffov. — Put a key on your 
tongue : — i. e. Beware of communicating secrets. 
This caution is beautifully expressed in the follow- 
ing verses : 

'Appriruv ixiuv yX&xrffn B-Qouy); \<xix,u<r6a, 
Kgmrtrav yxt> /avQujv, h xnocvcuv tyvXtzx'/i. 

BaXsrj x l/u,lv xagfaxi. — Drive a nail to me also : 
— To persons who foolishly compare themselves 
with those who are by far their superiors. This 
proverb takes its origin from the fable, according 
to which, a frog having seen a farrier shoeing a 
horse, went proudly up to him, and extending its 
foot, desired also to be shod. 

~£>a.Xz rov Xvkov wotcrrixov, xou rov trxvXXov ogx.yd<r?iv. 
— Appoint the wolf for a shepherd, and the dog 
for a corn-gatherer : — To those who choose not 
good managers of their property. The word vroi- 
<ttiko;, shepherd, comes from yroih, grass, because 
he conducts the herds in the meadows. 

Bd/ravo; Trirga. — Touch-stone: — To those who ex- 
amine their own undertakings as well as those of 
others, in which they are concerned, and perceive 
all the consequences, advantageous and disadvanta- 
geous, like the touch-stone which distinguishes the 
genuine from the spurious. The Ancients had a 
proverb to the same effect : XvVta x'tdos lxiy%u ro 

HcLff'tXv) riftx rov rfxToi' xk) <rv 'ffava, "%t yvsoffiv. — 
Basil respect the priest ; and you too priest behave 
yourself : — It is a duty to honour one's superiors, 
117—122 



18 GREEK 

but they also ought to conduct themselves proper] v 
towards their inferiors. 

Bacv/uSj Xoydgiov s%u, x av vov l>uffom, x a.X>.o S-s- 
ka. — The king has great treasures, but wishes for 
greater, if you will give him them : — In reference 
to the covetousness of powerful men. 

Bxtrru.it xcii o »^a<Fn(Atvp$ d.xod,T'/,T0v xctftoioi. — Even 
he who is in servile dependence, maintains ungo- 
vernable pride : — Small things often produce much 
vanity. 

HaQri^a xaCi yv^'ovw, xcu Z,r,<rn xa) fty) X>'h</'A. — I bap- 
tize and anoint, whether he live or not : — Every- 
one should do his duty independently of the conse- 
quences. 

~&ViXvyy,a, t%s igvf&utrBas — An object of execration, 
that every body shuns : — Applicable to the wicked. 

T$iQXto6rixn %y^v%os. — A living library : — Persons 
who without books can supply their use. 

Boicoria, vs. — A JBozotian sow : — One way of desig- 
nating a stupid fellow. (See farther, Pindar, 
Olymp. vi, v. 152, and his Scholiast.) 

TSovouTuov ccv y/^dtr'/i, vrdXtv lis fiob'iou viynv uva.t. — 
The buffalo, though old, is still worth an ox : — 
To those whose inherent worth renders their old 
age equal to the youth of many. 

~Bouvov iyivvynn tfovrix'ov. — A mountain produced a 
mouse .-—To those who make much ado about 
nothing. 

JSovvov fxl Qovvcv olv uvrayovtrsa Mountains don't 

go to meet each other : — To those who behave 
themselves in such a manner, that the slightest dif- 
ference will prevent their meeting ; as if the one 
would never require the assistance of the other. 

~&^uf/Aov 0^/d.gtov ogiyavov u.yu<ruu. — Stinking fish 
require wild marjoram : — To those plain ladies 
who need exterior ornaments. 
122— 132 






PROVERBS. 19 



Vala^et 2vo IftciZ.Xova.v V rov |jv«v a^v^ava. — Two 
asses were quarrelling at a strange manger : — To 
those who unnecessarily trouble themselves, dis- 
puting about other people's business. 

Ta.[A%Qo; x,a) vufztyy) QsXouv '$ ~r,v vo/atyiv t&iv irvp.- 

7Ttt)ioav The bridegroom and bride wished it, 

in spite of their fathers-in-law ;, — Those who are 
incbned to follow their own will do not listen to 
the advice of others. 

Tccgyaoisi yagyagu. — He conjugates the conjunction 
yag : — To a young student who makes no pro- 
gress in his studies, or an ignoramus. This is the 
history of the proverb : — There was in a certain 
school a young man, who, notwithstanding his na- 
tural abilities to learn, in consequence of his arrant 
trifling and laziness, was conspicuous for his ig- 
norance. The Professor observing this, one day, 
to amuse himself, and at the same time to correct 
the student, made him the sport of the class, and 
asked him what part of speech yu,(>, was ? a verb 
— was the learned reply. Of what conjugation ? 
a circumflex verb of the first. Conjugate it, said 
the master. — The young man was going on with 
astonishing volubility, till the bursts of laughter 
from his companions stopped him in his career. 
Henceforth he was denominated Mr. Gargari, 
and the circumstance was so notorious that his 
nick-name passed into a proverb. 

Twrovurffcc lxoi'/i ro <rTyri ffov ! \yui ' ' x, u *& x%-it%*&- 
— Neighbour, your house is burnt ! impossible, 
I have the keys : — To little minds which place im- 
133—136 



20 GREEK 

plicit confidence in things which afford no securi- 

ty ; .-.,;, . ■ v ■ , 

Turovio'ffx, VTT'/iy o xvogx; (/.ov g tov fzvkov' va W7rxv~ 
*%qiv9&>, n vx zu,grig'/i<ra ; — Neighbour, my husband 
is gone to the mill ; shall I take another, or shall I 
wait ? — To fickle and inconsiderate women. 

TiXx fti vx tri yiha, vx trigafAiv <rov xxigov. — Make 
game with me, that I may make game with you ; 
and thus let us pass our time : — To those who 
play amusing tricks with each other. 

TiXx ft&jgo; '$ xyzkxffTx. — The fool laughs where 
there is nothing to laugh at : — Anciently said : 

YtXtt, V o ftcogos x civ Tt (jla yiXolov h. 

TiXas, liffTfora, xxxx yiXx;. — You laugh, reverend 
sir, you laugh to your hurt : — To those who do 
not anticipate unpleasant consequences. 

Tivax r^uyovv to \pagiu. — These fish eat beard: — 
To those who in consequence of riches increase in 
power. Here the fish represents the rich, and the 
beard, power ; as being the strength of a man. 

Tia tjjv Qurixv uv 'h 0-vx.id. — That fig-tree is for the 
fire :• — To a hopeless character. 

TkvxxtP 'A y^'Ax 's to o-vxx, r^uyii xai to ffvxo<pv\- 
Xx. — The old xuoman relishes figs so much, that 
she eats the very leaves : — To one who becomes a 
gormandizer. 

YXuxx Tcitpayis, ^rtx^x to %a>vivirii;. — You have 
eaten them sweetly, you shall digest them bitterly : 
— To those who enjoy temporaiy pleasure, at the 
expense of future pain. 

TXvxvrxro fiov ^r^uffo, xx) <xu)$ B-x tn ^i^dcco ; — 
My sweetest leek, and how can I forget you ? — . 
Applied ironically to those whose self-love makes 
136—145 



PROVERBS. 21 

them imagine that they are beloved, or esteemed 
by others, to whom they are indifferent. 

TXvimoo; Vav Xo$t. — Slippery as oil: — To him 
who knows how to avoid exposing himself to 
dangers. 

Tougouvi '? to traxxi. — A pig in a poke : — Applied to 
an unseen purchase. This proverb originated from 
the practice in Greece, during the Mahometan do- 
minion, of selling pork in the night-time, which was 
done with the greatest secrecy, to avoid giving of- 
fence to the tyrant. 

Toapftivr,; tyuvri; ouvarwrzgoi h vraoove'ia.. — Presence 
is more efficacious than written words. 

Tewa, ftl zv uittpov 1/u.Syjx.t's tov %ooov, iiriira 'zbaz- 
26o lia va. ixQn, xa) 2lv vj/^^ro^sn. — An old woman 
entered a dance by paying a penny ; afterwards 
she would have given two to get out, but she could 
not: — To a person who ought not to entangle 
himself in undertakings that are beyond his 
strength, lest he be unable to withdraw from 
them even with considerable damage. 

To'/icic (ttavrsy^ara, xa) y'to^ov 7ra.oa.fjt.v61a. — An old 
woman's prophecies, and an old mans tales : — 
To those who utter idle stories, and talk nothing 
but nonsense. 

Yonyoouri^a car oXu y/ioal^ h ^d^i;.—~A favour 
becomes old sooner than any other thing .■ — This 
proverb is derived from the apophthegms of Aris- 
totle, who, on being asked what becomes soonest 
old, answered, a favour. The ancients had like- 
wise the following saying : 

Mtra <rr,v Vo<nv raxiirra y/ioacrxu X&Qii. 
Toedoug ff'ApzQov, xa) Xoyous auoiov. — Blows to-day, 
and words to-morrow .- — To those who begin 
145—152 



22 GREEK 

where they should end, and vice versa. This pro- 
verb answers to the following in French : au- 
jouroVhui on se bat, demain on se disputera. The 
whole import is in this sentence of Thucyd. Lib. 
i, § 78 : lovrs; ri ol ccvOowvoi Ij rov; vroXzpov;, 
t&iv t^y&iv wgorsgov 'i%ovra,i a %(>nv tStrngov ^oav' 

XOiXOTTaSoVVTZ? OS 7\0'/), 1"<WV XoyOJV UTrTOVTUI. 

Tvfivhv tyiv x^i a ' — -A naked favour : — A favour 
should be conferred freely and without ostentation. 

TvfAvov iva, %iXn>i ^Vftivei va. rov Ix&vffovv olv IfiTo- 
govv.~*Ji thousand dressed men cannot undress a 
naked one : — Because we can take nothing from 
those who have nothing. There is a kindred pas- 
sage to be found in Herodotus, Lib. vii, § 172 : 
ovbapu. ya,% odvuafflns uvuyxn x^iffffuv 'i(pv. 



AxviiZ,ov xa) Izfihzvi, rr,v %iogtuv (Jts/\ \n<rfjt,6'j7><ryis, — 
Borrow and spend, but do not forget the day of 
payment. 

Aolvzixo x ayvgwro. — Sorrowed and not returned: 
— To one who asks as a loan what people know 
he will never return. 

Aaviixov xv^ot, <r ccXzuqi, ^a-vzixov xai to tfgo£y/xt. — 
Borrowed, madam, is the flour ; borrowed also 
the leaven : — Reciprocal accommodation is com- 
mendable and useful. 

AuXo; o kXovtos. — Wealth is timid: — To the rich 
who are frequently influenced by timidity and cow- 
ardice, lest they should be deprived of their wealth. 
152—158 



PROVERBS. 23 

Aristophanes also in Plut. v. 203, says : 

Ankora.ro; 'io-(P o Ukovro;. 
and Euripides in Phamiss. v. 600 : 

_ d£/Aov 5' o vrXouro;, xod (piXo^v^ov xux'o*. 

PaUadas thus addresses gold : 
Xoval. -rung xokaxuv, ohuv/i; xa.) <Pgovrf$o; vis* 
Ka< ro 'ix,'- lv <*'- (ficZo;, xai ph 'ip^nv a o&Cy/i. 

AiiXonoo; rn; ^aXia;. — More cowardly than cowar- 
dice : — To very great cowards. 

A=r|£ pa; rhv papc'/iv <rov. — Shew us your back : — 
Instead of, go away, or begone. 

AitTva. Tihga., x s?.u va. crX 'J/vhkio*u Take your 

supper, mother-in-law, and come that I may catch 
your fleas : — To those who are over-anxious to 
render services at improper times. 

Aixa. fc'iroa, xa.) xo(prt yAav Measure ten times, 

and cut once : — To those who speak much and 
hastily without thinking. The tongue should not 
outstrip the thoughts, and every one should free his 
conversation from superfluous words. 

Ait/Avo; o y£ba.Qo;, uvavavf/Avo; o votxoxv^n;. — The 
ass being tied, the master is at his ease : — Domes- 
tic security is necessary for comfort. 

A'zv a&feus rov xbtfov va. cxv^n ri; va a\ <ra.^. — 
You are not worth the trouble that one should 
stoop to pick you up : — To him who despises little, 
and is disappointed in his prospects of greater gam. 
A Spaniard hearing of the abundance of gold to 
be found in Mexico, thought he had only to go 
thither, aud pick up as much as he desired. Ac- 
cordingly, when he arrived at Vera Cruz, he found 
by chance a doubloon on the ground ; but confi- 
dently relying on the wealth which he thought he 
158—164 



24 GREEK 

should soon possess, haughtily spurned it away, eja- 
culating the words of the proverb, which afterwards 
passed as a common saying. It is scarcely neces- 
sary to add, that he had not many opportunities 
like that which he rejected. 

Aiv V^iVQii vu, %&joiir'/i 'Suo ya.'ba.^ojv up^v^a,. — He can- 
not divide straw between two asses : — To extreme 
stupidity. 

Ah 'ix il £ '£ 7 ° v %%-iov fto'igav. — He has no share in the 
sun : — To very poor people. 

Aiv yvgzs an'oy-'/i rov yu.Xy.ia.goTtcaXov o~ov. — You have 
not yet found your man with shaggy buttocks : — 
To those, who living disorderly, do not think of the 
punishment that awaits them. This proverb is 
taken from the ancient : ovtfu Mi\a,p<xvyu> rtru- 
%wkus. Thia, daughter of the Ocean, having two 
sons who used to insult passengers, endeavoured to 
persuade them not to do so, lest they should fall 
into the hands of a certain man with black but- 
tocks, and be punished for their misconduct. 
Hercules meeting them thus employed, tied their 
feet together, and threw them over his shoulder, 
with their heads reaching below the lion's skin 
which he wore. They soon recollected "the warn- 
ing of their mother, and perceived its application ; 
whereupon they burst into laughter, and Hercule 
learning the cause of it, untied and dismissed them. 
See Zenobius Adag. Centur. v, § 10. and Suidas - 
under lAiXotf/^vyov rC^ois. 

A\v 'ki.'i'Tr o Mk^7'/i; utfo rriv ffa,^ciH,oirT'/iv. — March 
does not fail to happen during lent : — To those 
who obstinately and without shame intrude them- 
selves on the society of those who hate them. 

Ah p a.ya.'Tra, o avo^ge&s /u,ov, 2ion Tiv (ti [tarffovxatTi. — ; 
My husband does not love me, because he has not 
164—169 



PROVERBS. 25 

beaten me : — To those who distrust the love of 
their friends merely because the expression of it ap- 
pears at variance with their own ideas of affection. 
It is said that in some parts of upper Albania, the 
wives receive so much maltreatment from their 
husbands, that they consider a frequent beating a 
sure proof of conjugal affection, and the absence of 
that seasoning, a no less certain sign of cold indif- 
erence. A newly married woman being one day 
asked by her friends whether her husband loved 
her, complained bitterly of his cruelty, as he only 
caressed and paid her attention as if she were a 
stranger ; and bursting into tears, exclaimed, 
" No ! my husband does not love me, I have not 
yet received a single blow from him !" 

Aicc rr,v a-r-ioiav it; utfopiav. — On account of inex- 
perience in perplexity : — To those who, remaining 
in their original ignorance, are perplexed and em- 
barrassed by a reverse of fortune, to a degree some- 
times unfavourable even to their honesty ; an evil 
from which a greater portion of knowledge might 
happily have preserved them. 

A/a to xot^tpiov xuvu to vstc&^ov. — For the nail he 
loses the shoe : — To those who, for the sake of 
trifles, incur great losses. 

Atit to px\--\--\--\, lx,a<ru,piv to %U- %^~x\ 
— Vulgarly for the following : Ink t'/iv (oXnx/iv xat 
o xgiftiTitr/ao; uTri^ga. — For the bleating we have 
Inst the neighing ; — To those who to save a little 
lose a great deal ; as the English say, To save at 
the spigot and let out at the bung-hole. — or — 
Penny wise, pound foolish. — Or to thieves, who 
attempting to steal little, often lose much. The 
origin of the proverb in question is this : — A 
peasant went one day on horseback to steal a 
169—172 B 



26 GREEK 

sheep, and approaching a fold where the sheep 
were enclosed, tied his horse to the hedge and en- 
tered. When the dogs began to bark, he, fearing 
lest he might be caught by the shepherds, fled 
in haste on foot, not having time to release his 
horse. On his return home, his wife asked why 
he had walked, and what he had done with his 
horse ? Imitating the baa-ing of a sheep and the 
neighing of a horse, he replied ; that in striving 
to gain the former, he had lost the latter." 

Aia rov vr'ovov nrov putted, yteitp' o Xuxo; rov ^vyov. — 
For the sake of the ox, the wolf licks the yoke : — 
To those who flatter others in order to gain their own 
ends ; as for instance, he who wishes to marry the 
daughter flatters the parents, and the hungry guest 
pays court to the master of the feast. 

Atcipooov anpuXurov, xu.) £ r /i/x,i(/, oXoffrooyyvXri. — 
Or what in ancient Greek would be expressed 
thus : — aojvoithi; to kgf/Miov, o~rQoyyvX'/i §' y) Zymia. 
— What I have found is conical, but ichat I lost 
was round : — This proverb has its origin from the 
following anecdote: — A carrier on a journey lost 
a horse-shoe ; as he went along he saw on the 
ground a nail that had been thrown away, which 
he picked up and shewed to his comrades, saying 
to them with a laugh ; "A conical advantage and 
a round loss. " Conical being the form of horse- 
shoe nails ; and horse-shoes in Greece, being made 
round, and not, as in other countries, in the shape 
of a crescent. 

Swci<rxxXs '-/Ton dtSc&crxz;, aa) voptov 2lv Ixoaru; ! — A. 

fine moralist, who teachest, and dost not keep the 

law ! — To those who recommend duties to others 

which they do not practise themselves. Similar 

172—175 



27 



to this is the ancient Greek maxim . 



"AT<z>ri; iffftlv I? to vovhruv cotyoi, 
Avrct V a.u.ccorava'jTts oh yiyvu<Txofji.i'j. 

A.3it o Q-c; •^apiov, x i oiuz.Z,tr opa; kou zuAoo-uof&u,. — 
God gives bread, but tee must creep along ourselves 
also : — To lazy people who ahsnrdly expect food 
from God, without using any exertions to obtain or 
secure it. The proverb is taken from the following 
tradition : — A simple man who had often heard an 
impostor preaching to the multitude for his own 
profit, on his advising them to distribute their mo- 
ney freely, and God would support them, without 
their even giving themselves the trouble of work- 
ing, quitted his residence, and retired to a desert- 
ed spot, where he remained two days fasting, in 
the hope that God would send him some food. 
On the third day he saw by chance, a great manv 
horses passing at a distance on the highwa)', laden 
with baskets of bread for the camp which was near 
at hand. A loaf falling from the last horse, after 
all had passed, the man, being weak, dragged him- 
self along the ground in a sitting posture, and tak- 
ing precautions to avoid being seen, reached the 
place where the loaf had fallen, and having seized 
it, began to eat, saying often ; " Yes, truly ! God 
gives bread, but we must also drag our bodies a- 
long to take it. " The German say : Gott giebt 
den ochsen, aber nicht by den hazrnern. 

&nt?z.oo7r'i<r6yi<Tctv u<ruv rod Xu.yov to. <z , uto'id. — They 
were scattered like the young of a hare : — To 
brethren who are widely separated from one ano- 
ther. It is said that the hare makes her young feed 
apart. 
Aio-Kccgiov l>i<7fQio-w7ro').-—A double-faced quoit ; — To 
175—178 



28 GREEK 

those who conceal a hostile disposition under a fair 
exterior ; which Homer had in view when he put 
the following verses into the mouth of Achilles : 
(Iliad, ix, v. 312.) 

'E%0o6; ya,o pot x-iivog, opai; ail>u.o TuXyfftv, 
"O; % 'irzgov f/Siv 7civ6n ivt <pgztr)v, ci/.Ko 11 $u~C,n> 

Phocylides also says, in admonition : 

M'/itf zrt^ov xivQois x^aor/i v'oov, ccXX' uyogzvcav' 
TLutrtv o uvrXoo; 'ItxSt, to. £' zx '^vy^ts ccyogzvz. 

A); vraiciia, ot yzgovris. — Old men are twice chil- 
dren : — To those in whom the imbecility, fre- 
quently attendant upon old age, has reduced the 
mental powers to the same state as during the pe- 
riod of infancy before the mind has acquired strength, 
knowledge, and experience. Aristophanes, JYubes, 
v. 1404. says also, 

$r,<rzi; vo[/.iZ ) iff8u,i o~v rratboi rovro rougyov zivat ; 
'Eyi %i y avrziTTotfA ava>sot$ sra.T'Sz; oi yz^ovrz;. 

Ao? x If-il, xau to rfcudi f/,ov, thou x avowees f/.ov *s 
rhv S-vgav. — Give to me and my child, my hus- 
band is also at the door : — To those poor people, 
who, the more you give them, become the more 
importunate ; and as one want is satisfied, ima- 
gine another. Also to those who exhaust the pa- 
tience and benevolence of their friends, by their 
imprudence and rapacity. 

Ao; pz xuigov, Vthzi; Z,unv. — Give me time, you give 
me life : — Applied to a particular portion of time 
upon which often depend the greatest emergen- 
178—181 



PROVERBS. 29 

cies. The effects of time in general are quite the 
contrary, for as Simonides says : 

Xgovo; 6?b; ooovra; 
~K.cc) "ttolvtu, ^/Y^u xa) to, (-nciiorarcc. 

Ao; fjt.i xv^a. rov av^a <rou, xa) <ru xou.ru rov xcttu.- 
vsv. — Give me your husband, madam, and keep 
you the pestle : — To persons who without shame 
or discretion ask from their friends what is most 
necessary to them. 

Ao$ rov <7rr,ya.vov, Six va pn finer xa.v67i. — Give him 
some rue, lest he be bewitched : — Ironically, to 
persons who are always apprehensive of evil. For 
rue, according to the popular notion, is an infal- 
lible protection against witchcraft. 

Aos rov "$/6jf/.iov, xa,) %u'/.icti$ 'ivrura,. — Give him 
bread, and after that the scourge : — That is, give 
a man what is sufficient, and if he still importunes 
you for more, you may then justly reproach him 
with his greediness. 

AovXtvi fjcz xaxoppoifyxz, y,v] yivu 'o~a)v xa.) trivet. — 
Serve me poor wretch, lest I become like you: — 
A taunt to those who are so oppressed with po- 
verty that they are glad to serve others without 
any pay but their food. 

Auvaircci Tzv 6vvu,tra.i, xav rlfjcfcoiriov erov eiyoiov. — You 
can or you cannot, at least put on a fierce look : — 
We should not be pusillanimous, and allow our- 
selves to be frightened by threatening emergencies, 
for even the weak, by shewing a little courage and 
greatness of mind, may weather the storm that as- 
sails them. 

Auo uSiXQo) ipti.XA.ovuv, xa.) 1>vo r^iXo) %%o,iqu.v. — 

Two brothers were quarrelling, and two fools 

were rejoicing at it ; — A good lesson to those who 

are prone to anger, which is generally a loss to 

181—187 



30 GREEK 

themselves, while it is a subject of rejoicing to the 
foolish and the wicked ; who, as the English pro- 
verb says, " love to fish in troubled waters." 

Avo ubiXfyo) %vu.$ xo/>f&6$. — Two brothers are one 
trunk : — Denoting that they should mutually 
strengthen and support each other ; which Xe- . 
nophon, Mem. Lib. B', C. r', § 19. expresses thus : 
aoiXtpoj <pi/.a> o'vrs, xai vrokb ^up-tuti, ?rg«<r<7S- 
rov cifta to, 1-t utyiXtia, aXXnXoiv. 

Avo urzid, xa) otfowv ffsrao"/) Two leather-bottles, 

and which of them will burst ; — To those who 
dispute warmly with one another ; or to those who 
are indifferent with respect to the interests of others. 

Avo Xcr,yov; av xvv/iyx;, x'ot'hvo 3-e vd <r\ (puyovv. — 
If you pursue two hares, both will escape from 
you : — To those who are distracted by a multi- 
plicity of pursuits, which precludes the possibility 
of giving that attention to any one of them which 
is necessary to success. The ancients expressed the 
same sentiment thus : 

'O "civoj <XTaixa$ "hiuxwv ovhin^ov »aT«Xa/i?aJS(. 

which in modern Greek would be : 

'O xwniyav 2uo Xuyovs, olTi xav %va tfiavu. 

Avo o'^uQioc t\% iv rwyuviov r'/iyxvi^ovrus, xou \v to 
ecXXov Tiv <xi<rrivu.-—Two fish are fried in the 
same pan, and the one does not believe the other : 
— To those selfish persons who suffer the same 
misfortunes as others, but believe only their own. 

Avo ^uuovtxa u; yAciv [/.uo'x i u,X'/)v %\v (ha.o-<rovvTa.i. — 
Two waier -melons cannot be carried under one 
arm: — Of very difficult things, one of which is 
enough at a time to do well. 

AS; vrXovr'/i, oi^n; yvuffiv' !iw$ vtria'fciia.v, owns tqi- 
Xav. — 'Give riches, you give sense ; give poverty, 
187—193 



PROVERBS. 31 

yov give folly : — This proverb is very just as re- 
gards the superficial judgment of the multitude, 
and the selfish conduct of the worldly. It is easy 
for the rich man to obtain the reputation of wis- 
dom, and the observance due to it ; while he who 
is poor, if he escape the imputation of folly, is still 
exposed to indifference and neglect. 



E 



E«v x, rj) '*-^ vagoixntf^Si %wXcci<juv (Aoidvurn. — If you 
sit down with a lame man, you will learn to halt : 
— A lesson to those who keep bad company ; shew- 
ing that we naturally acquire the habits of those 
with whom we associate. The French say: dis- 
moi qui tu hantes,je te dirai qui tu es. 

'~E?gci7%u, ft? cfAiXiT. — He is speaking Hebrew to me : 
— Used emphatically to express what appears to 
us unintelligible. The French likewise say : c' est 
du grec pour moi. 

'E%oa7o; ^otuao-ro; roc. vtaXaia. ttav&ffTt^a yvinvit. — 
A. bankrupt Jew searches his old accounts: — To 
a miser, who after suffering some loss, endeavours 
to find resources where none exist. 

'ESbcJou kcycc^iacrfiob; (pion. — He brings a Jews 
account : — That is, he makes an exorbitant charge. 
In the same sense they say in France : c'est un 
compte cT apothicaire. 

"Eyyi^t to /u,cc%cc7gt '$ to y,ox.na?^ov. — The knife has 
touched the bone: — Of a serious injury, which 
coming closely home to a man, is scarcely to be 
forgiven or forgotten. 
193—198 



32 GREEK 

am no glutton, but a growler To those who feel 

discontented, from being deprived of what belongs 
to them. 
'Eyeu v« yJn ff\ Vilai, act) o zoffftos «.$ Xiv. — Thovgh I 
give you nothing, let the ivorld say I do : — To 
those who boast of pretended deeds of charity, with 
the mean desire of gaining a false reputation a- 
mong men. 
"Eyu tov \iyca, z)f/,ai ihvovy^o?' aliTog oi ft i^ojtoch, 
Toircs, vreuhu, s%a. — I te ^ ^ m I am an eunuch, 
and he asks me how many children I have : — To 
those who ask impertinent questions, and perpetu- 
ally return to the charge, after being made distinct- 
ly to understand that their curiosity cannot be 
gratified. 
EDj tov <rdtpov tv; fWTg&iees ncti xXu'iu. — He has 
seen his step-mother's grave, and he weeps .-—To 
those who feign grief which they do not feel. 
E/'jj f/,oi to. //.ira^b KogivOou xtii ~2tK.vavo;. — Be mine 
whatever is between Corinth and Sicyon : — This 
proverb comes from the ancients, and applies to 
those who long to be rich. 
luivcci a-^i'rii za) puDvpos 'guv tov wpiovov. — He is fiery 
and irritable like a mule : — The Greeks say also, 
zTvui 'cdv tyiv "sko. (or to zvuvtrftcc.) — He is like 
tinder. 
Ei'jai fii^'/iXo?.—He is profane : — That is, he is not 
in the secret ; alluding to the sacred mysteries of 
antiquity which were kept secret from the vulgar. 
~Eha.t kou uir<7r(>u. acii ftavgct yiXoiu, — There is both 
ichite and black laughter : — Our frame is .so con- 
stituted, that even when overwhelmed with grief, 
something may be seen or heard, irresistibly ex- 
citing us to laughter. On one occasion, a family 
199—206 



PROVERBS. 33 

in Greece were in a state of deep mourning for the 
recent loss of a father. A lady came to console 
them, and had scarcely entered the room, when, 
while busied in taking off her cloak, her wide pan- 
taloons became loose and fell to the floor, and 
getting entangled with her legs, brought her to the 
ground. At this sight an irrepressible desire tu 
laugh seized all who were present. 

Ehat r&Tga3oiyevv9}fiUo$. — He was born mi Wednes- 
day : — To those who being born of noble and gen- 
teel parents, are, by a reverse of fortune, reduced to 
serve others. We still retain, as is seen by this pro- 
verb, what is said of the birth of Hercules, who, 
in consequence of its having happened on that dav, 
was doomed to serve others, be subject to them, 
and perform such labours as were enjoined him. 

Eivai q>rw%o r a^v), 'zx~' ^ w>.uri7av olpav The 

sheep is lean, but it has a broad tail : — To a per- 
son of slender information, but of vast pretensions. 

E'ikccj toy govgXov va, X^V' ' iy -^ iart y - ^''CoXuS'A. — A. 
fool was told to and he sat down and pre- 
sented his posteriors : — To those who, under the 
name of doing what they are bid, do what amounts 
to something very different, from the manner in 
which they go about it. 

Elnv o yaffiagos toy vnritvo, ziQaXu. — The ass said 
to the cock, big head: — To those who are blind to 
their own defects, however great, but ingenious in 
detecting the smallest faults in others. 

Ei; duo 0-uvrzx.v- rhv tXctiav. — God-father cut the olive 
intico: — To a voracious eater. ( Vide 2 under* 
Iuytvkyi.) 

Eh luypa<pny.ivcc livlou, ^ixvarat. — He forgets him- 
self among painted trees : — To those who from ab- 
•206—212 u 2 



i- GREEK 

sence of mind, are betrayed into any serious breach 
of decorum in the presence of those whom they 
ought to respect. 'The history of the proverb is as 
follows : A man of this character happened to be 
in the company of a brilliant party of ladies. The 
drawing-room where they sat was hung round with 
a numerous assortment of paintings representing 
trees, mountains, lawns, and the whole variety of 
rural scenery. Musing upon these he so far for- 
got his situation as to imagine himself alone, and 
being visited by the calls of nature, proceeded, 
without quitting the spot, to obey them. This 
happened in a country to the north of Europe, and 
being told in Greece by a person who was present, 
gave rise to the proverb. 

Els ®io$, xeu voXXo) (piXot. — One God, and many 
friends : — Though our ultimate dependence should 
be on God, that does not supersede the cultivation of 
human friendship, which is the established medium 
through which many blessings are conferred. 

E/j K^ifjcairf^ivou ctzov ff^otv) [jJa f/.iXiT'Aff'As. — Dorft 
mention a rope, in the house of him who has been 
hanged : — In conversation we should avoid those 
topics that may excite painful recollections in any 
who are present, particularly as to any thing dis- 
honourable in the history of their family. 

~Eus f&ixjiov troltov vvroo'/ipa, y/hyu. — A large boot to a 
small foot : — To orators who magnify what is in 
its nature trifling. 

"Ei; vo/xov xotkias. — This proverb depending upon a 
pun does not admit of translation. The pun is 
upon the word h"krAa$ {age") converting it into 
xotkius (belly}. Using the proper word, the phrase 
would denote that a person had reached his majori- 
ty, but the pun conveys the idea that he had come 
212—216 



PROVERBS. 35 

to the age when the laws give him power to eat 
what he likes. It is applied to epicures. 

El; Z'zvov y,oaa-i, vioov y,r, (ZeLkys. — Put no icater int^ 
another's wine : — To those who officiously inter- 
fere with the affairs of others. 

El; o-ttoiov to oXiyov dzv ilvtzi lx.cz.vov, lit tovtov ovaiv 
txKvov. — To whomsoever a little is not sufficient, to 
him nothing icill be sufficient : — To those who are 
dissatisfied with their actual circumstances ; inti- 
mating that the fault lies in the state of their own 
minds, which no external change could remedy. 
It points particularly to the endless cravings of am- 
bition. 

El; 7ra,Xct%ov x-cu xokoSov, f/.0V ku.X-X-0; o rt xciu,'/-,.— 
For a fool and a maimed person, the grave alone 
can do any thing : — To those who are past all 
hopes of amendment. 

Et; ToXXob; traxiov fm kvffy;. — Dont open your purse 
before many : — i. e. Don't make a present to any 
individual in a company, while the rest are looking 
on. 

El; ffxuKXou ro TgoffxitpuXov ■$>&)/&) o\v fypioavu. — 
Under a dog's pillow, bread does not see the day- 
light : — To great eaters. 

El; 0-ruou.v ynv ffitiigu. — He sows on a barren soil : 
— To the ungrateful who make no return for the 
favours conferred on them. 

El$ t'av u.£go%iot.v (or '; ty,v a,vct£(?o%id) xako V xcu 
to ^aXa^. — In drought even hail is good: — To 
those who being in extreme distress are glad to pro«* 
cure relief even by a considerable sacrifice. 

El; tyiv Quoccv ffTix.ii;, ^;7|s f/,a; t'av TTi(>vav ffov.— 

You stand at the door, shew us your heels : — To 

those who have an opportunity of escaping from 

danger. The expression is borrowed from the eii- 

216— 224 



36 GREEK 

eumstance, that a person in rapid flight throws out 
his heels alternately, thus presenting them in quick 
succession to the eyes of his pursuers. It may also 
apply to those who intrude themselves upon others, 
who, not desiring their company, would be better 
pleased to see them withdraw. 

El; tov xuSivu ra. "biKix, rov uvc/,1 uy,og(pu. — To every 
one what belongs to himself is beautiful : — To the 
vain and conceited, whose self-love clothes what- 
ever they possess with fanciful embellishments. 

El; to tfigav (Z(>i%it. — It rains on the opposite side : 
— Tauntingly to those who pretend not to under- 
stand you. 

El; to <xi6u,gi rh Kt£u[Atiot,v. — He commences the pot- 
tery art by a large jar : — To those who attempt 
what is great without having gone through a pre- 
vious training by performing things of a simple 
kind. The ancients expressed it thus : h &Mtu tm 
xigafiuav. 

El; rov; Tvtprov; yik <ffgoZ,vp.a.- — He asks leaven from 
Gipsies : — It is foolish to ask favours of men of a 
niggardly mind. The Gipsies are considered so by 
the Greeks, and hence the proverb. 

El; tov; xaxov; 0X01 xgiatrrovv. — Every body is in- 
debted to the wicked : — viz. for injuries. 

Eh tov; x,azob; rgirzeixu. — To the wicked, misfor- 
tunes come triple .--Expressive of those overwhelm- 
ing judgments which frequently combine to crush 
the wicked. 

El; rov; f/.m^ov; ftixgu liio~zi o %i'o;. — To little men, 
God gives little things :■ — To those who betray a 
childish joy on the reception of trifles. 

El; rov rawuvov rov xwXov yru.^a^iift.u.^ovv Aaiftovi;. 
— Devils winter at the back of the humble: — To 
a bad man who envelopes his real character in a 
S;arb of humilitv. 
224—232 



PROVERBS. 37 

El; ruv rvty'Kuv Tqv %&guv, /u,ovoQt)ctk/u,o; o KvQtov/i- 
tyi;. — In the country of the blind, the ruler may be 
blind of an eye : — Knowledge is entirely compara- 
tive, and a man of very partial information may 
gain the admiration of those who are totally igno- 
rant. The French also say : dans le pays des 
aveugles les borgnes sont rois. 

E'i^ku-iv rov ffxvXXov, % iGovihi tov Xvxov. — We kept 
a dog, and he assisted the wolf: — To a bad ser- 
vant, who, being trusted as a faithful friend to the 
family, forms a secret combination with the ene- 
mies of his master to facilitate his ruin. 

Ei%iv o tpoo'jif/.o; %ou\iugt, 'iT^ojyi xctt o Tgi"Ko$ f/,1 
rovro. — The wise man had a spoon, and the fool 
also ate with it : — To those who allow their pro- 
perty to be used by unworthy men, who embezzle 
the profits, and grow rich at their expense. 

'Ezxxitrzv o fauKxaxas, x h Xiftvn Tiv to |sv££/. — The 
frog flew into u passion, and the pond knew nothing 
about it : — To insignificant men whose expressions 
of wrath are disregarded by their superiors. Or to 
those whose importance exists in their own imagi- 
nation only, as the fly upon the chariot-wheel : 
" O what a dust I make." 

"Excct/,i x h xaxb %m(>u, o-itk^i. — The barren country 
has at last produced grain ; — To those who after 
much wilful perversity are at last reclaimed. 

'Exv>J<rf h "fcVT^u., x' y,Z^i to G~xitfu,o~ftu, T'/t;. — The 
pot while rolling, fell in with the cover ; — To those 
who concur in their sentiments. 

* Ehu. vraTTrov, vcc a\ ^stjfai tk yovtxce. rrov. — Come, 
grand-papa, till I shew you your ancestors: — To 
young impertinent prattlers who presume to teach 
their seniors what they know much better than 
themselves. 
233—239 



.i» GREEK 

"EXa av Tgifiaftivz, u; ifil rov piyaTtrdgnv. — Come 

you trembling, to me who am shivering : To 

those who experience similar accidents. 
EXdn trzvXioL, xxi aXitrart, xa.i aXafTata //.h t'oain. 

— Come, dogs, and grind, and pay nothing for the 
mill : — To a house in great disorder. 

"EXct%is to M You have drawn the letter M. — as 

it were from a lottery : — Enigmatically to a fool, 
the word pwoo$, which signifies a fool, beginning 
with that letter. 

'Ekiu0igcc Ks£*v£«, xK'- °' Tov SsXs/s. — Free Corfu, 
— where you please : — To those who confound li- 
berty with anarchy and unbridled licentiousness. 
The grossness of the expression forbids a verbal 
translation. 

"EfAxh yvpvos, x Ivrgstrer Iv^vfAvo;. — He is accus- 
tomed to be naked, and is ashamed to be clothed : 
— To those who prefer old customs, however awk- 
ward, to all modern improvements. 

"Ef/Aa, iU to, Tv(pTo ! 7rav~ka., zee) ^idXt^i t affTgorsgov. 

— Go to the Gipsy-children, and choose the whit- 
est: — When ail is bad, whatever a person chooses 
must of necessity be bad, 

s E/u,us ^tuft) Viv l%oy.iv, xa) h yuTa Trrira, evqva. — 
We have not bread to eat, while the cat drags away 
the pie : — To ill-placed profusion, productive e- 
qually of want and waste. 

'Evayav IvaQ/a^svoj.—— The accused is the accuser .*-•-- 
To a guilty person who accuses other people. 

"Eva; £ouoXo$ p'i/C vii <r ^ v ^T^av zh to <n"/)yuoi, xou 
\xchtov <Pgovt/x,oi Tiv TTjv IrAuXXovv. — One fool 
throws a stone into the well, and a thousand wise 
men cannot take it out ; — The slightest impolicy 
sometimes gives birth to evils which no subsequent 
measures, however wisely conducted, can remedy. 
240— 2 4S 



PROVERBS. 39 

' Y.;y.; tppivtfto$ vkio %i?.tsu; atyoo'ia.:. — One wise man 

is worth more than a thousand fools : — which 

Plato in Gorgias, § 44, expresses thus : E/V <ppo- 

tu-j fAvotw fjcr, tppovovvrcov xpiirrojv \ffrt. 

'Ev ogm va. \xtrroXur6y v\ vvftQ'/i, <roZ yapoooZ ru. puna. 

ixZ,r,xu.v Whilst the bride made her toilet, the 

eyes of the bridegroom were starting from their 
sockets : — To those who delay ; and to those who 
are impatient or eager in expectation. 
'EvrpoTT^Xo; 'ffav o %o7po;. — Bashful as a hog : — 
Ironically of a man who has no shame. 

*f3f oco-/i, xai f/Ae-ce, Kvxes Externally a sheep ; 

internally a ivolf: — As the English adage, " A 
wolf in sheep's clothing." See Math, vii, v. 15. 
'EhTiplixtao-iv. — Escaped like a partridge: — That 
he extricated himself, as a partridge skilfully eludes 
the fowler. 
'EZ-up' o Qzo; ri Vvdeov y..a.ou.Uit. — God knows what 
tree he causes to fade : — That the dispensations of 
Providence come by knowledge, and not by chance ; 
and, whether as punishment or discipline, are just 
and wise. 
'E^tuoeu ri 3-iXa' •Trd.y.iv ffuxa. 8-iXa. — I know ichat it 
wishes for ; it ivishes Jigs again : — To those who 
dread a repetition of the dangers they have already 
suffered by. The proverb took its origin from the 
following tradition : A Sicilian merchant having 
gone to sea with a cargo of figs, was wrecked, and 
with difficulty preserved his life by swimming to 
the shore, where he sat down upon a stone. Af- 
terwards, perceiving the sea calm, and suspecting its 
smoothness to be a deceitful temptation, he said to 
those who had also saved themselves from the wreck, 
" I know what it wishes, it wishes figs again.' 1 
The proverb is similar tothe 49th fable of Mio]). 
249—255 



40 GREEK 

'E%'/ivru,&iXov/i$ itvozi. — He is a sixteen-needler : — 
To a miser. From the modern Greek comedy by 
(Economos, of this name, which it derives from 
that of its hero, whose petty avarice is thus indi- 
cated. As in France since the time of Moliere, to 
call any one a Tartufe, presents a more distinct 
image to the mind than the general term, hypo- 
crite. The ancients expressed the same meaning 
by the term xvyAvoftgier'As. Theocr. also says, in 
Idyll. ;, v. 54-55 : 

UtiXXiov u 'cfi/u-iX'/iru. tytXagyvQi <rus <paxo$ s-v^s/v 
M*; Vira^j tuv %ttga xccruTgiav to zvf/.tvov. 

"E|&/ «to ro kiQizXi (A.ov, «j '/jvai nod t ubiXtyav pov 
. — If I save my own head, I do not care even for 
my brother's : — To those who are so .exclusively 
selfish, as not even to feel for the misfortunes of 
their own relations. 

l E\ca avf to, kccxu., ivzoXut; /rupSovXiCit;. — Out of 
evils, advice is easy : — To those who, meeting with 
no difficulties themselves, presume to give directions 
for their conduct to those who do. The same sen- 
timent occurs in jEschylus. Prometh. v. 263. 

'EXatpgov, offTis T'/iftci'rciJv &%a tf'ohu, 
*E%a, rfcigaivuv vov6in~v <ri tov; xuxus 
Ti^a.o'o'ovTas. 

Shakspeare also, in Much Ado About Nothing, 
act 5, scene 1, 

-'Tis all men's office to speak patience 



To those that wring under the load of sorrow ; 
But no man's virtue, nor sufficiency, 
To be so moral, when he shall endure 
The like himself : 

256—258 



PROVERBS. 41 

£2*6/ rou %ooov vsXXa. roecyov^ia kiyu.— Out of the 
assembly, he gives many songs : — To those who 
boast out of season and place ; or to those who, 
really possessing useful and agreeable talents, ne- 
glect the proper occasions for their exercise ; and 
obtrude them without being desired, where they 
are unsuitable. Another reading is : oV $Tv avr 
t\oi toZ %oocu, vroXka. r^ccyou^ta, \ivoii. — He who 
is out of the company, can sing many songs. 

"ETalli ttau tpccfa He has suffered and learned; — 

Which the ancients conveyed by «%«?■«, (A.a.Sn- 
para.. This recalls the adage ; qua nocent, do- 
cent 1 to which we may add what Thucyd. says, 
Lib. a, § 18, y.z-ce, xivSuv'av <ra; f&sXiras Woiov- 
ptvai. and Shaksp. As You Like It, act 2, 
scene 1 , Sweet are the uses of adversity. 
"ETutli red XivaoioZ to, <xa@n. — He has suffered the 
sufferings of lint: — To one who has suffered 
much ; lint, in the process of preparation for the 
purposes of manufacture, being yery roughly han- 
dled. 
''E'tto.v cclyo 's rhv yAmv <rau X^'atu va '' 'wtrryioit'/i. — 
He tries to support an egg upon his nose : — To 
one who thinks himself capable of every achieve- 
ment, and who pronounces all that has been done 
by others to be easily performed. The proverb 
is said to be derived from the pleasant illustration 
by which Christopher Columbus, in a familiar 
manner, level to every capacity, exposed the folly 
and presumption of his enemies, who wishing to 
depreciate his merit as the discoverer of America, 
said that it was nothing extraordinary, and that 
each of them could have done the same. At a 
great feast where several of these persons were pre- 
sent, Columbus, taking an egg, asked, who could 
make it stand upon his nose. Each tried, but to 
259—262 



42 GREEK 

no purpose, as may be supposed ; when he, breaking 
it, easily stuck it on. All then exclaimed, " We 
can do so likewise ; what difficulty is there in it?" 
" True," replied the great navigator, " you can do 
it, now that I have shewn you the example." 
'Etfavoj it; rvtv x, a i^ v y - l/ ^ ° xagrokoye; The nup- 
tials, — and lo ! the tax-gatherer ! — To unexpected 
misfortunes which are aggravated by coming in the 
very season dedicated to happiness. 
^Ytira.oi x&QeLki, pu^zi ro7%;ov. — Take a head, and beat 
a wall : — To those who are so stupid, that their 
heads being no better than stones, are represented 
as fit for nothing but to beat walls. 
"Etfagc ju.z orxv f/J ib/^'/is, dia. va, ft z%'/i;, orav S-sAjfj. 
— Take me when you find me, that you may have 
me when you wish : — That we should not rely too 
implicitly upon present prosperity, thereby neglect- 
ing to make a seasonable (not an avaricious) pro- 
vision against future exigencies : but should rather 
imitate the ant and the bee, who, out of the abun- 
dance of summer, lay up stores to compensate the 
sterility of winter. 
'Esra^ao - ' o x,a7-oy/i^o$, xovzta, too /jcayti^ivovv. — > 
The Monk having observed Easter, returns to 
his beans : — To those who having observed, as 
well as they are able, the duties or ceremonies en- 
joined them, return well satisfied to their usual 
habits. 
"Evrzo-i to Xabi '$ rh <pxx,r,v. — The oil has fallen into 
the lentil soup ; — In raillery, to one who has sus- 
tained a trifling loss. Olive oil is in Greece an 
article of the greatest use, and employed as butter 
is in other countries, especially in the time of 
Lent. Lentils require a great deal ; and therefore 
the oil falling into the soup, of which it was a ne- 
262—267 



PROVERBS. 43 

cessarv and important ingredient, could not occa- 
sion any great loss. Hence the proverb. 

"Etiko-iv h ycira. <rov ttovtikov The cat has caught 

the mouse : — To those who suffer justly. The cat 
generally catches the mouse while committing de- 
predations . 

"Emua-i to %ikiov cctto rhv ovgdv. — He has caught 
the eel by the tail : — To those who lose their time 
in pursuit of objects, which, from their nature, it 
is almost impossible to retain ; or who vainly eu- 
deavour to convince by argument, or improve by 
admonition, those whom sophistry or cunning en- 
ables to elude them. 

"EvrguZa,; (houvrts "Hoa ! — You have done it ox-eyed 
Juno ! — Applicable to those wives who sooner 
or later accomplish their own wishes in spite of the 
opposition of their husbands. It takes its origin 
from the apostrophe of Jupiter to Juno, when she 
had excited Achilles against the Trojans, whom he 
favoured. {Iliad, 2'. v. 357.) 

''ErfgyiZag x.cu ZTriira, powvris 9rorvuz."H6yi. 

'jOgjitmvu rowuX'tov t'/iv aorrccv. — The chicken gives 
advice to the hen : — To the young and forward, 
who in their pertness and ignorance, pretend to 
instruct the experienced and advanced in life. 

"EvTfot.ffi to. t'ooiJ. tou, -a i^ura. <rov; oLxXov$ olv <rov; 
fowt. — He has broken his legs, and asks others if 
they feel any pain : — To men who, while conscious 
of the derangement of their own affairs, hope to 
escape observation by an affected interest in those 
of others, and assuming airs of patronage and pro- 
tection. 

"EtTTiis- ffirdgt, x \<pvrgair& xgiDdgt. — He sowed 
wheat, and barley sprung up : — That the inten- 
tion is not always to be judged of by the result ; 
267—273 



44 GREEK 

since well-advised proceedings are not always at- 
tended with success. 

Jl EtruQ o ■A.'kkrfrns tyiv <p&>vyiv vd <p6y/i o votnozugyi;.— 
The thief raised his voice to make the oioner fly : 
— To those who cry out first when they have com- 
mitted an injury ; and by assuming an appear- 
ance of innocence and indignation, endeavour to 
frighten and prevent the sufferer from making an 
accusation. 

'Effv ro xare&u'Qi, x \yu [A r /\8i ^ufju dgftivtzo. — You 
the rich cake, and I not even black bread : — 
Karavipi, probably from Kara v<$hv, like a tis- 
sue, is a cake made of pastry resembling very small 
vermicelli interlaced, and which forms a real tis- 
sue. At Constantinople they excel in this species 
of pastry. Hufju d^pivixo, is a kind of very coarse 
black bread, which is called Armenian bread ; by 
what relation to that people I do not know. Or 
perhaps it takes its etymology from the word icgfii- 
vov participle of aoa> for a^ohiov, convenient, ne- 
cessary. The application of the proverb is to 
those who are rich and live in abundance, while 
others have not the necessaries of life. This senti- 
ment Theocr. expresses thus, Idyll, i'. v. 13 : 

'Ex m$w avrXtt; ^XoV lyw £' 'i^u ou% uXis o%o$. 

Evytvn l$d>va%av, xai o ph %x uv d'7nXoyh6r i They 

called a noble, and he who was not one, apologiz- 
ed : — To vulgar rich people who assume nobility, 
in the hope that some at least will be deceived. 

Euyivhs Ik fiaXavriou. — Noble by his purse : — To 
those whose riches procure them the honour due 
to rank, talent, or virtue. 

Evzatgov fiav^giov, ytpdrov Xvkov?. — An empty fold 
filled with wolves ; — That is, empty as regards its 
273—278 



PROVERBS. 45 

proper occupants, and filled with thieves and mur- 
derers ; as in times of anarchy, when the good and 
peaceable are displaced by the wicked and violent. 

Eu%hv si; tov ysirovcc <xov vu.%'/!, Tioio-trorsoo'j Ts si; ryv 
%u7octv gov. — Wish that your neighbour may 
have, but wish more that your own pot may 
boil : — " One word for your friend, and two for 
yourself." It is a good thing to have a rich and 
generous neighbour ; but it is still better for your 
respectability and independence, to exert yourself, 
that you may not need his assistance. 

'Etyu.ya.fASv tov yasi^ctoov, ftci; sf&ui 'h ovou. tov 

We have eaten the whole ass, there is but his tail 
now: — Tv~hen we have by energy and persever- 
ance overcome the difficulties, and accomplished 
the really laborious part of an undertaking ; we 
ought not, by suffering our constancy to be shaken 
at the end, to leave our work incomplete ; but 
finish perfectly that which we have begun well. 
( Vide O under "OXov to flaHi lop.) 

"Etyays Xojt'ov. — He has eaten lotus : — To those who 
have resided long in foreign countries ; because 
eating of the lotus was popularly believed to make 
a man forget his country. 

"Etyay 'h p-vtycc eTbr^ov. — ■ The fly has eaten iron : — 
Ironically to those who think they can perform 
impossibilities. 

"Etpay o trxvXko; <r uXsv^i. — The dog has eaten the 

- meal : — To those who, under vain pretences, refuse 
a request ; and disguise their unwillingness to grant 
it, by excuses invented for the purpose. 

: 'Ep0utnv si; tuv <dsuv r avTicL. — It has reached the 
ears of the Gods : — To those who cannot elude 
the divine vengeance for the evils they have done 
278— 28 4 






46 GREEK 

as it is beautifully expressed in these two verses of 
the Anthology : 

'AvOguTTou; y,\v 'lira; Xqirsis, ktotov rt trot-Acra; ' 
Ov 7J,<nn oz Qzob;, ovhl koyt^oysvo;. 

"E<p0a.<r 'h TTgoStu. '$ ra lubiKu.. — The sheepskin has 
sufficed to pay the twelve : — To spendthrifts and 
debauchees who, without reflecting, squander their 
property in dissipation. It is said that a drunken 
currier who was indebted to a tavern-keeper twelve 
pence, not being able to pay him otherwise, took 
from his house the last fleece which remained to 
him, and gave it to the retailer of wine in pay- 
ment of the debt. His wife observing that this 
fleece had disappeared, questioned him; " have 
you taken the sheep-skin ? what have you done 
with it?" But he, being half-drunk, replied ; " the- 
skin sufficed just for the twelve. The word ttoq- 
Sid, signifies what the ancients expressed by y,'A- 
X<wt57. This last word is still employed in the pre- 
sent day, but more rarely than the first. 

'E^a^ ixttv 'h fcorra, h otto'io, iyivvat yiyaXo <r av- 
yov. — The hen that laid the large egg was lost : 
— To those who have had the misfortune to lose 
a benefactor that liberally dispensed his kind- 
nesses. 

"Efcaffxi vet £«^sj f&ovG&Xiov, k %^a^/t fAuTyeev. — He 
was gaping to snap up a buffalo, and swallowed a 
fly : — To those who without judgement are al- 
ways expecting some great good fortune to happen 
to them, and meet with nothing but trifles — all, 
indeed, that the little desert of the idle merits. 

"Ejjjsi x> 'A ftutyu <r<7rXriva.v. — Even the fly has a spleen; 
— We ought neither to despise nor to insult the 
weakness of an enemy • the tamest may feel an 
284—288 






PROVERBS. 47 

injury, and the most feeble find a mode of retalia- 
tion. 

"E%u x.ed/.oxa.^ilca;. — He has stings on his back: — 
To those whose conscience tormenting them with 
the fear of the discovery of their secret misconduct, 
are restless, suspicious, and irritable, like a man 
who has been stung by nettles or bees. 

"E%u Tiirirav xat •za.oabutxo'j. — He has pitch and pa- 
radise : — To a man who acts with moderation and 
prudence ; and keeps well with all parties, by join- 
ing himself particularly to none : Steering equally 
between two extremes. 

"E% h x,vou. tov o'ikov, x h xa&zXa ?cc xXithici. — 
TJie mistress has the house, and the girl the kegs : 
— Blind confidence in servants, whether proceeding 
from indolence or simplicity, is always to be depre- 
cated, as injurious to the interests of the mistress 
and the morals of the servant. 

'E%0oov xat (pdovsgev r o/x/xtzriov rwv yiirovav. — Hos- 
tile and jealous is the eye of neighbours : — To en- 
vious neighbours. The two following verses on 
envy may be appositely introduced here : 

e O <p0ovo; lerri xdxttrroi' s%a2i rt xkXov iv uut£>. 
linn yv.^ (p6o'jiQ&>» oft/xaroc xcci xugoiav. 

'E%u pufiftciru. oiu, rvtv _yovvu.v ffov 1 have thread 

for your fur : — That is, you shall suffer for the 
evil you have done me ; I reserve my vengeance 
till an opportunity offers. 

'E-ipotp'/Kri to ficooi po-j, x \\% (.titled <iv 'a a f/.-v. — ?/Iy ox 
is dead, and we are rid of it : — When the causes 
that engage us to make treaties cease, then the 
treaties themselves are nail. 
288—294, 



m 



Z<7 %ur(>a, Z$ <pi^-ia. — The pot boils, friendship 
lives : — or ^Jt^j (p/Xtx, pot-friendship : — To 
those whose assiduities are prompted by their in- 
terest ; but which they attempt to dignify by the 
name of friendship. 

Zurraivirai ftX roc; Ikvrfia;* — He warms himself with 
hopes ; — or otherwise, az^oZaetXivii, He reigns in 
air : — To the sanguine who delight themselves 
with imagining happiness, often as visionary as 
agreeable- Voltaire also says, (Merope, act 1. 
scene 4.) 

" Je lis au fond des cceurs, a peine ils sont a moi : 
Echauffes par l'espoir, ou glaces par l'efiroi." 

Ziuyaoi xa) xXatvi. — A pair and a branch : — To 

those who, by reciprocity of regard, and similarity 
of tastes, appear to be informed by one mind : 
Shaksp. also says, Midsummer-night's Dream, act 
3, scene 2, 



- So we grew together, 



Like to a double cherry, seeming parted, 
But yet a union in partition, 
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem : 
So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart. 

:?i; !)iu to. r^uy/is, '/) <rguyu$ ^ta, va, t,r,; ; — Do you 
live in order to eat ; or eat in order to live ? — In 
pleasantry to those whose sobriety is suspected ; a 
question which often entraps, when the answer is 
made with vivacity too quiok for reflection. 
295—298 



PROVERBS. 49 

1y,ti putvgi fi.au vot. <pZs rgiQvkXt, x.u) rh kvyoucro 
ffrin(pu>.i. — Live my donkey, that you may eat tre- 
foil ; and in August, grapes : — To those who 
make fine promises for a distant time, and still 
more for an uncertain future. 

Znrii tx, Tr'ioa TaSuguv. — He seeks far what is be- 
yond Gibraltar : — That is, he attempts things dif- 
ficult, and almost impossible. From the ancient 
proverb : to. tt'-^o, Yah-'iouv, ob vrzg/zTu. 

Zr,ru to,-, po'toas v aftarnirn. — He seeks to deceive the 
fates : — To those who take every precaution to 
preserve themselves from death, as if they could 
«lude their destiny. "We may here also cite the fol- 
lowing fragment of the poet Phanocles, preserved 
by Clement of Alexandria. 

'AXXa to Motouuv vr,{t aXvrov, ovbi, rtv' s<rnv 
'Eztpuyiuv, oft'offoi yiiv \<7Ti<pio£o l </.i6u.. 

Zr,riKvo IXoyAXv fjih 2'3i ryjv \XiYifjcoirvv7iv Gov. — Give 
not your alms to a sound-limbed beggar ; — la 
other words, encourage not the lazy, since society 
has no evil more pernicious than this class of indi- 
viduals. 



H 



H ukrrfua uvea ftaXXcorga. — Truth i« a quarrel- 
maker : — Unvarnished truth is offensive, and is 
apt to excite anger, when it comes home to one's self, 
"H avruXXayvi, n u.-TQ?r^ovrh. — Either elude or di- 
vert : — That is danger ; there is no other alterna- 
tive. 

299— 304 

C 



50 GREEK 

C H attQima If&Gamt f/A to ffuxxiov, xai IxGuivu fti t\ 
/ssXov; — Sickness enters with the sack, and goes 
out with the needle ; — All afflictions are more easi- 
ly contracted than removed. 

"H fidgzt <r ag%ovTosrovXov f n /zh to $oxi/xdZ,us. — 
Either satisfy the young noble, or try it not : — 
Give adequately, or not at all, to those whose wants 
are great. 

'H yXatrira xoxxaXa 2sv s%u, xai x'oxxaXa ffvvT(>iQii. 
— The tongue has no bones, yet breaks bones ;— 
To those who bitterly reproach and distress others, 
by their inordinate love of speaking. 

'H yg'/iu Tiv u%z AidSoXov, xai ay'agaei yovoovviov. — 
The old woman had not a Devil, and she bought a 
pig : — To those who, not having evils, create some 
for themselves. 

'H %wTga YoTga Tzv ytvtTai. — The beggar becomes 
not a giver r — Those who are accustomed to ask, 
rarely learn to bestow. 

'HttiXwrz v ayidc/i, xai , \irta.yitt.ffi.—He wished to 
purify others, and, was frozen himself: — To those 
who, in their endeavours to serve others, meet with 
an evil return. t AyiaZ,a>, and ayiao-pos refer to 
a particular custom in the Greek church, according 
to which the priests, going from house to house 
with water that has been blessed, sprinkle the ha- 
bitations and families, generally by means of small 
sprigs of myrtle bound together. The origin of 
this custom is very remote ; See Notes in my Edi- 
tion of the Orations on the Crown, Boston, 1829. 
p. 229. 1. 12. 'i\u tcuv vzg{ppavT"/j0ia/v, x, <r. X.] 

"HfaXov, o'uvuvah'ofci, vatrizlTw, <pd.yi, fiXiTa opus to, 
Xzqiu> gov xai Tiv ouiuu^ouv. — I ivished, fellow - 
godfather, to say to you — eat, but I see that 
305—311 



PROVERBS. 51 

your hands are not empty : — To those who are so 
greedy as to need no invitation. 

H xxXn YifAioa. utto rhv ccbyhv li'i^vit — Or, accord- 
ing to another reading — 'hpiga xakh u.ko to to^u 
Hzi%vst. — The fine day shews itself from the dawn : 
— =A good education in early youth is the best pledge 
of a virtuous life. 
'H xoiXlot, auTix lh %x u ' — ^ e ^ e % h as n0 ears * — 
Those who are hungry do not understand jesting. 

Hfi-.T; its Zfivov?, xcci Z'ivoi si; '/i t u.eH;. — We to stran- 
gers, and strangers to us : — This elliptical pro- 
verb bas two meanings, — the first addressed to 
travellers : — Let us conduct ourselves towards fo- 
reigners when we are in their country, as we would 
wish them to behave to us, when they come to ours, 
— as one of the ancients has said, 

Ssvo; vrsipuxu;, nrou; ^svr^oxov; ffiSou. 

The second, the duty of hospitality : — . When stran- 
gers visit us, let us receive them, as we ourselves 
would wish to be received by them in their coun- 
try; as, 

Ssvov; f sw£s* xu) tru ya.^ Zivo; y 'iffy. 

In either sense an excellent lesson, whether we are 
so situated as to receive or to perform the social 
duties of hospitality. 

'Hftu; tfsivovpsv, xa) to. trxvXXia, xoXXov^ai; ffvpouv. — 
We hunger, and the dogs trail cakes ; — To poor 
and proud persons, who, while in secret they deny 
themselves necessaries, make a shew of allowing 
their dependants luxuries. 

r H ftlv X li i ' iv AiTo/hoTs, o $s vov; in VLXutti^uv.— 
The hand among the JEtolians, but the mind a- 
mong the Clopides .—In the word AlweXoTs there 
311—316 



52 GREEK 

is an allusion to the verb alru, I ask. Atpy is 
understood before KX/vtiImv, in which there is a 
substitution of the letter I for r, Kgavriet having 
been a borough of Attica, in the tribe Leontis, from 
which the people of the borough were called K^u- 
^riSis, a substitution, however, made in conse- 
quence of a defect of the organs of speech in some 
persons, who wishing to pronounce r, cannot do 
so, and instead of it use I. The allusion, there- 
fore, is to k\u-^, thief. See in regard to this 
proverb, Aristoph. Equit. v. 80. The sense then 
is the same as if it were said : v% x*i l ^ lv «**£* 
tm Tz vu zkivrra. — He begs with the hand, but 
steals with the mind: — Applied to those who beg 
in order that they may steal, and, while they 
stretch out the hand for alms, are meditating a 
theft. 

^FLftiga; %agci, mi %gavou kurtr,. — A. day's pleasure 
and a year's grief: — The transient pleasures of 
vice are generally succeeded by tbe penalty of long 
continued suffering. 

£ H f/y/irioa y,ou Viv %rov, <pr\riv o 7ra,<rigc&s /xov. — My 
mother has not been, but my father has : — To 
those who wantonly insult and sport with the feel- 
ings of others, whom they despise ; believing them 
incapable of making a retort, and thus receive a 
good lesson when they least expect it. A person 
of high rank, who was travelling, arrived in a vil- 
lage, where, encountering a villager whose resem- 
blance to himself struck all his attendants, he asked 
him if his mother had ever been in such a town, 
" No," said he, " my mother has never been there, 
but my father has, several times." 
"H fuzgo; f/.tx,6o$ 'vruv^gi'^ou, ri (/,ikqo; xcckoyigsipov. 
— Either marry very young, or turn monk very 
young : — That a person should decide upon his 
316—319 



PROVERBS. 53 

future course of life, before he has contracted ha- 
bits which may be opposed to the choice most ad- 
vantageous for him. 

'H pvtya. ItuK-i r uXcya,. — The fly drives the 
horses : — To those who, believing themselves to be 
of the greatest importance, think that they are the 
soul of every thing, when no one is conscious 
even of their existence. 

' H va vipvkotpoovr,; okiyurioov, '/j va. 'ov'ictaou 'TTiotiT- 
ff'oTZ(>ov. — Either less pride, or more power ; — 
Pride without power is contemptible. 

'H *v/u,<pn '$ to, yrifaoixa X u fi> yaf&Sgov ri Shikit ; — 
The bride at her father-in-law' 's, without the bride- 
groom. ! what has she to do there ? — To those who, 
by neglecting the opinion of the world, bring 
blame upon themselves ; which they will be sure to 
do, even by too much attention to persons who are 
near to them, at the expense of those who are still 
nearer. 

'H %'zvn lyvoia yw^iiii rov trzvXXov. — A. stranger's care 
makes old the dog : — As a Swiss sacrifices health 
and strength in the service, and for the interest of 
strangers. 

' H 5T«7rS;, <7ru<7ru.s' y, Z.ivya.;, Z,ivyu,?. — If a priest, be 
a priest ; if a ploughman, a ploughman : — To 
those who unite employments incompatible with 
each other. 

'H irir^u. fjuiTu^doiciv lis (ia,6'/)(/A'Jov totov. — The 
stone has struck again the place to which it had 
become accustomed : — The same evils are apt to 
return to the same individuals. 

'H vriTgivo;, r, ^vXivo;, — Either stony, or wooden:- — . 
"Where there is no feeling, there can be no impres- 
sion. 

'H, vroXka); <poovrih; Ufftfotfccv to.)? Tg;%ai' <7CV+ = 
319—32? 



54 GREEK 

Many cares make the head white .-—Grief brings 
on premature old age. 

'H vrohXh fftfovhn rov 'iSyaXi ra, (/.vaXa rou. — Much 
study has turned his brain : — Applied to men of 
genius by the vulgar, who are apt to call that folly 
which is above their comprehension, because at va- 
riance with their own manner of thinking and act - 
ing. Voltaire has well expressed this sentiment : 
— " Notre miserable espece est tellement faite, que 
ceux qui marehent dans le chemin battu jettent 
toujours des pierres a ceux qui enseignent un che- 
min nouveau." (Diet. Philos. Under Lettres.) 

! H travkka utto rhv fiiav ms rvtpXa, yivvu, to, xovrdi- 
fita Ttfj. — The bitch, by her haste, produces her 
young blind : — Excessive zeal without due reflec- 
tion seldom has a good result. We may add to 
this explanation the following verses, which ex- 
press the same idea : 

'H fifiaouTavs fiovXh yJiy af&iimV h 01 ray^zla , 

AliV i(pi\si0f6iV?iV TYiV {AtTOiVOSCCV '%tl. 

"tiro ^Xu^ov y*ai (pueceffzv. — It was green, and has 
made a spot : — To a thief, discovered by the marks 
of his theft. 

( H rgiXa Tragofto'iu &l$ oXovs Tsv thai. — Folly is not 
alike in all people: — it is said also : — xara <ryi> 
rgiXu, youQi ro rgskog. — According to the folly, 
write fool : — This last proverb takes its origin 
from the reply of a schoolmaster, who having been 
asked by one of his pupils, with how many Vs he 
ought to spell the word rgsZ.05, fool, replied, — 
" according to your share of folly." TqzXss, is de- 
rived from trrgiSko;. 

~Hvga.fjc.iv \ovg7Jov tcituv, x.a) oX'/if/,iga •^ctXXoft.iv.— 
We have found a foolish priest, and we sing all 
day : — To bad servants who, taking advantage of 
327—332 



PROVERBS. 55 

the goodness and indulgence of their masters, con- 
tinually take their own pleasure, and neglect their 
duty. 

Hugsv 'a uffia tov po^ov. — The file has found the 
knot : — To self-confident and insolent persons, who, 
wishing to dispute with those who are better in- 
formed than themselves, are vanquished and de- 
spised. c Po£«j from ogo$. 

Hugzv % x.ogu(p'/i tov vrarov. — The top has found the 
bottom : — To those who spend improvidently, 
"without sparing or economising their resources. 

Hvgsv h vvf/,<P'/} ftas to ywv'to^iov oTiirhv tv; S-y^aj. — 
Our daughter-in-law has found out the little cor- 
ner behind the door : — Ironically of things evi- 
dent ; to those who, without reason, imagine that 
they make great discoveries. 

Hvgzv o xw\h$ xar^tpo^ov. — The lame man has found 
a descent : — To weak persons who, while execut- 
ing easy things, make a parade of their strength. 

Hygs to ^vxpiov iU t«iv Xao-vrw. — He has found a 
twopence in the mud: — To those who, in the 
hope of a trifling gain, commit actions which dis- 
honour them ; like a man who, stooping to pick 
up a silver twopence which he saw in the mud, 
fell, and made himself all over dirt. 

H^e to Tou^i tov. — He has found his peer : — To 
persons closely resembling each other j the word 
toc.7^1 is from Itou^o?. 

'H (pant) jBE to 0-toc.miov Tv\i $quZ,u. — The lentil boils 
against its xoill : — Every thing yields to superior 
force. 

31 H xogi-^aTi %,x\u, n u-QviTi tov %ooov. — Either 
dance well, or quit the ball-room : — In the same 
sense as the maxim of Lord Chesterfield. — " What- 
ever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well." 
332—340 



56 gree: 

e 



05[«-r«v trufie&Xtas Itfoxgivzrat. — He feigns death 
like the panther : — To those who prepare snares 
for us. It has been said of the panther, that when 
he sees apes, he lies still as if dead, and thus en- 
traps them when they approach him. 

Oa, tri xoLpu va ftu£'/i$, <7ro<r auyu X.ojq-a h ffxovtpia. 
ffov. — I will make you learn how many eggs your 
bonnet will contain : — Used when one threatens an- 
other, that he will make him repent of some ac- 
tion, and that he will punish him. ILxoCtpia, pro- 
bably from cxvQos, <rxu(piov. 

QuvftaffTu, va Xoyta ffov, y.uai^cuv of/.ue uTTiffTiav. — 
Your professions are admirable, hut they have 
the odour of being incredible : — To those whose 
promises go beyond their performances. 
z7o; xc&i B-iiu f/J zDgzipav, ffvioc xcil QXcya (it? zxwpav. 
— Uncle and aunt have reared me ; the hearth 
and fame have burned me : — Injuries received at 
the hands of relations are more severely felt than 
those inflicted by strangers. 

Qikzi v'u \x&a,7»'/i v htp'iltov a<vo rjjv v^vTfav (£z vov 
vgskov ro £%/. — He wishes to bring the serpent 
out of his hole by the hand of a fool: — To those 
who, in order to avoid exposing themselves in en- 
countering dangerous enemies, secretly employ, as 
instruments against them, the courage and fool- 
hardiness of more simple persons. 

QiXzt v avHff'A vo Yzv^gov, x' h fta-X^ ^ v T ' ^ t P' vii ' — ■ 
The tree wishes to flower, and the hoar-frost per- 
mits it not : — To one who becomes an obstacle to 
341—346 



PROVERBS. 57 

the advancement of a young man naturally well- 
disposed. 
&<os ^luxa rob; auaoraiXov;. — God pursues sin- 
ners : — That sooner or later those who do evil, 
will reap the fruits of their misconduct. Theocr. 
says also, Idyll, i. v. 17. 

Ei/gs Qic$ tcv aXirgbv. 

Qippviv zU ^u^oix. zacfiiccv 'i%u. — Tie has a warm 
heart to cold things : — Of those who shew great 
zeal upon occasions where there is little worthy of 
their exertions. 

QiofAtuv uv loiToi:.—.IIe is a doctor of Thermia : — 
That is, he acts the doctor without being one, 
and knows how to avoid compromising himself. 
The isle of Thermia is the ancient Cythnos. It 
derives its present name from its hot springs. The 
proverb was the result of the following fact : — 
A tempest having driven into one of the ports of 
this island, a vessel which had on board a Greek 
in the European costume ; one of the passengers, 
for a jest, told some of the islanders, that he was a 
physician of high reputation ; and there not being 
one in the island, though there was no scarcity of 
diseases, a deputation came to wait upon the sup- 
posed doctor, to request him to visit the sick, and 
moreover to establish himself there. All his excuses 
were in vain, and he was compelled to yield to their 
urgent entreaties. He performed some wonderful 
cures ; but, as his science was not very profound, 
in order to preserve his reputation, he had the 
prudence to withdraw in time; leaving behind 
him the name of a physician of great merit. 

0srr«>.£v vopifffta, — Thessalian coin ;— To those 
346—350 

e 2 



58 GREEK 

who tell lies ; because the Thessalians used coun= 
terfeit coin. 

Q'icooia, tTicrxovgov, xa) xaoYia fAvkuivoi. The mien of 
a bishop, and the heart of a miller : — To those 
who have the external appearance of being respect- 
able and just ; but internally, have a bad disposi- 
tion. This proverb alludes to what is related of 
the bargain of a fisherman, at first with a miller 
and afterwards with a bishop ; the latter of whom 
wished to pay him with benedictions, while the 
former fulfilled his contract. 

®r,oixkuov (piko$. — Friend of the Thericlean cup :— 
To the votaries of Bacchus ; from a species of 
wine-cup made of glass, first invented by Thericles. 
KwA/f, r,v kiyirat •pt^utos xi^apivtrui <dn'^xkn$. 
Suidas. 

Spi'^i kvxov rov %zt[/,uva, vol ff\ tyu.y'4 to x&koxai- 
gicv. — Nourish a wolf in the winter, that he may 
devour you in the summer : — To the ungrateful, 
This proverb is thus expressed by Theocr. Idyll. 
L v. 38. 

Qgi'^ai xod kuxi2u$, B-pi-^ai xvva;, us rv (pdyavTi. 

€>>jf/J; vffn^a civTo oka y/i^aZ,u. — Anger last of all 
becomes old : — Death is the only extinguisher of 
anger, which is the last passion that expires in 
characters naturally addicted to it. 

Qv/jlqv largos k'oyos. — The physician of anger is 
reason : — Persuasive words often appease the anger 
of the most irascible. Solomon says also, (Pro- 
verbs, ch. XV. v. 1,) ' Arfoxgio-ts Ti vTo&iTrcutra 
atfotprpttpu S-vpov* 

&vpojfft ; a? rt'tq %vh. — Is he angry 9 Let him 
drink vinegar : — To those who put themselves in 
a passion for nothing ; or of those to whose anger 
we are indifferent. 
350—356 



59 



largos, fAoutrixo;, y.ui XaXes uvea o xahlg. — Every 
one is a physician, a musician, and a fool : — 
This means that every one has some portion of 
these three qualities, and that there is nobody who 
is not, during some period of his life, in circum- 
stances where he acts as his own physician, enter- 
tains himself with his own music, and has reason to 
accuse himself of some foolish deed. AojXo; may 
be from aXaos- 
'largos rov \ccvrov rou xafa)s tfg'ivrit va yvai. — Every 
one ought to be his own physician : — This means 
that, when occasions present themselves, we ought 
to make use of them in order to acquire some know- 
ledge of medicine, which, in the event of necessity, 
we can apply to practice. Let us hear, also, what 
Hippocrates says as to this, (Vs£< halms vyiavijs, 
p. 340.) "Avt^a, Ti x&i °' ' i(f ' ri ffuvzro;, Xoyitra.fji.i- 
vov 07i ro7<Tiv avSoowoitri wkiitrrou ahov Icrrtv 'h 



vyum, itfurraffBai zx tvis tajvrov ytrnp-ns iv met 
vovirr,<ri'j a(piXi&<r6ai. 

'fioh ij 'Pooos, Bob xa) to vrvd'/ifAu. — There is Rhodes, 
and there- the leap : — To one who boasts of the 
great feats he has achieved in other countries ; and 
who is challenged to prove the truth of his asser- 
tion, by performing similar exploits on the spot. 
From the 1 4th fable of JEsop. 

'l^guTa S-'iXu 'h a^iT'/i. — Virtue requires a laborious 
effort : — This means that we must give ourselves 
to strenuous exertion, in order to attain to virtuous 
357—360 



60 



conduct. Hesiod, Oper. et Die. Lib. A', v. 2S7 
thus expresses the same sentiment : 

Tr,s y ccgiTYii t^^aJra, S-zo) ■sTgotfugotfov 'ifaxav, 

and Pindar, Olymp. vi, v. 14. 



- Axtvhvvoi B' agi 



tch 



Oun <ffao av^pdtriv, out h vavtrt xaikous, 
?' lltuu _ 



K 



l^aiuouos ovgavos affreatfas Hlv <po£i7rui. — A serene 
sky fears not the lightning. Also, |«o-r£^s;oj (or 
^«(Ttj^«j) olgc&vos, affrgawyiv [wi tyoQaffc&i. — The 
sky is serene, fear not the lightning : — Threaten- 
ings disturb not the breast of the innocent. 

Kcch)$ -rhv $pZ(jLa.9 <rou %\v Tr,v ffi^ccUiTat. — Every 
one is not disgusted with his own bad smell : — 
It is also said : sis xctSUa h (s^ufca. tov Tsv tov /3g&/- 
f/Au. Addressed to those who oyerlook or excuse 
their own faults. 

Kc/Js "kayos ^X il ^ a ' r ^ v ot-yrox^iirh too. — Every opi- 
nion has its answer : — That no argument can be 
so strong but that something may be plausibly 
advanced on the opposite side. The ancients too 
said : tccvt) koya> koyos <xa.ku.Ui. 

"Kadi iriovtti xakriTi^ov.^ — Every past year is the 
best : — To men of discontented minds, who always 
praise the past. 

Kci&iT h <7ro[/,<7rrt 's tov ^oopov, xa) vri^iyikusi tous 
livSuTas. — Scorn sits upon the highway, and 
360—365 



PROVERBS. 61 

laughs at the passengers : — To those who would 
reduce others to the same state of ignominy or dis- 
grace with themselves. 

K«^= -4/11/(77'/;; 'iy^a xu.) tqv f^aorvoa. rou. — Every liar 
has another for a witness. 

Kce.hu (or xuDicri) ffTQaSa, kui ko'ivi l^ci (or 'l<ntt). — 
Sit crooked, and judge straight : — That is, judge 
justly ; the proverb is taken from the posture na- 
turally assumed in deep study or investigation. 

KyJ&j; $roiiJ/z;, (p&yi. — As you have ground, so eat : 
— Every one meets with a corresponding return for 
a foul tongue. 

KctHojs xa.vova,o%£.;, cr\ -^d>.Xovv. — As you give out 
the line, so will they sing to you : — In the same 
sense with the preceding. The word xavova^a; 7 
is more commonly written xaXuva^u,;. 

Kui octo yv/Avov cxaOiov <7ritivzra,i. — He grasps even 
a naked sword : — To those who, when involved 
in difficulties, have recourse to dangerous expe- 
dients. ( Vide O under c O pb f^wv ?r«^.) 

Kcci a.'ffo ffTiigav alycc IxS&cXXn ydXa,. — He extracts 
milk even from a barren goat : — To those who 
prevail by a natural winuingness of manner. 

K«< 'xhroi xuXXc-ffobrig, k \xt7vos "^ctSb;. — The one 
is bandy-legged, the other blind : — When, of two 
bad things, one is at a loss which to choose, re- 
sembling the English proverb, " six of the one, 
and half a dozen of the other." 

K«< abroi tyi; vof/.'XYii, xa.) xitvo; r%s x&vvc&s. — The 
one deserves the pillory, the other the galleys :—— 
To bad men who have similar dispositions. 

K«; %vo xett r^ii; ra, ^r^iTovrct, xakov tivat va kiyuv- 
reu. — It is well that what is good should be twice 

or thrice repeated : This proverb is derived 

from an ancient one which is attributed to Empe- 
365—374 



62 GREEK 

docks, in the following terms : Kui 2)? yu-o, S lit, 
xaXov iirriv hirvruv. Plato in Gorg. § 53, ex- 
presses it thus : K«< Vt$ ydg rot xai r^'i; <putn xa- 
7.ov z'tvut to za.hu Xiyziv ti xai iKHrxoTitffQui. 

Kat us rhv vrXdrw o/^/^dna 'ixii. — He has eyes even 
on his back : — To those who, with wakeful atten- 
tion, observe the motions of those who use artful 
means to deceive them. 

K«< vipus vtov/ipo), d.7-7.' \ffus f&u; |j5TS/5v«<rj (or vtid 
r>fjux$'). — We indeed are cunning, but you are be- 
yond us : — To those who are worse than cunning. 

Kaivovgyiov f&ou x'ocxivov, xa) <ffov vd, ff\ xgiftucw ! — 
JMy new sieve, and where shall I hang you ! — 
Every thing new is, for a short time, more valued 
than what is old. 

Kaigo; ipa^h T^dy/naro;. — Time is the soul of every 
thing : — Said of things that are done seasonably. 

Kai 's <rhv $gv<riv vzgov Tzv tvgitrxei, — Even at the 
fountain he finds no water :■ — To those who, from 
their own deficiencies, are always unfortunate. 

Kai '; rov xa. — On the buttocks too : — zu>, per syn- 
cope for xuXov. — It is used when two persons em- 
brace and continue kissing each other with extra- 
vagant kindness, as if you should say, you have 
only farther to salute each other on a part which 
decency forbids us to name. 

K«< <tv xaxcv fczgo&okov, xou xi7vo$ xaxov oifjiftdnov. 
— You too are a bad handful, as he is a bad bun- 
dle : — To persons who are equally worthless. 

Kat rd TToXXa o 'i%ojv S-gnvii, xa) o rd. ohiyu. — He 
who has much weeps, as well as he who has little : 
— Every one has his sorrows. 

Kat <r abyd xa,) to xu.7-d.Stov. — Both the eggs and 
the basket : — Said in a case of total loss. 

Kat ro (jc'iT.1 x'o^ov i%u.—J2ven honey occasions sa~ 
374—384. 



PROVERBS. 63 

tiety : — That there is nothing which dees not come 
at last to disgust, if dwelt on without intermission, 
It is thus expressed in Pindar Ifem. Od. vii, v. 



-Kooov o \x u 



Kat /Lcikt xa.) to. ts^ttv avSC 

K«< tovto /jloIou. ub'j, xk) xuvo yzorix'ov f/,ov. — Both 
this is my part, and that is my portion : — To men 
whe grasp at every thing without being satisfied. 
A different turn is sometimes given to the same 
sentiment, thus : ciuro va. y.ov to ouffr,?, \xi7vo va 
ffov to Taou, yj Ixuvo va /u,ou to %aoio-r,$. — This 
you will give me, that I will take, and this you will 
make me a present of. 

Ka; to -^/ufju ffcoffTov, xa.) o cxvXXo; %ograff{tivo;. — 
The bread is whole, and the dog is fed, : — To good 
economists. 

Ka) tpo&iiTut, xa) (poStgiZit- — He both fears, and 
threatens : — To those who conceal their cowardice 
under mighty words. 

Ka) %6tS xovxia, xa) avyioov X^cayov xoi/ximv. — 
Yesterday he fared on beans, and to-day on the 
juice of beans : — To persons in extreme poverty. 

KaxoXoyu, \vno~h va xaXoXoyr, T-.v 'iy.ufav. — He speaks 
evil, because he has not learned to speak well: — 
This proverb is taken from an apothegm of So- 
crates, who, when one said to him : xaxu; o lilva 
<ti kiyu, A certain person speaks evil of you ; an- 
swered : xaXag yag Xzyiiv obx 'iyaSiv, It is be- 
cause he has not learned to speak well. 

Kaxuv vuvvyuot;. — A food of evils : — Of evils that 
follow each other in rapid succession. 

Kakd^vai to. irXarvy.u.vixa., to vav'tov ouea? llv <p0d- 
vsi. — -Broad sleeves are beautiful, but the cloth will 
384—391 



64 GREEK 

not admit of them : — To those who have a longing 
for what is beyond then' means. 

KaXa r/}z%zi, oy,ca; 'i\t» tov ^po(it,ou.-~He runs well, 
but he is off the course : — To those who practise 
virtue, but without a proper system. 

Kah'/iftiga 'las/v/7, zouaia ffTzgva.—" Good day, John:" 
" I am sowing beans .•" — To those who, from inat- 
tention to what is said to them, return incoherent 
answers. As if John were a labourer, and an ac- 
quaintance passing should say to him : " Good day, 
John ;" and he being intent upon his work, and 
thinking that his friend asked him what he was 
sowing, should answer : "lam sowing beans." 

KaXh ' J 'A vvip'/) fta,;, p,ov' sJvat ffr^a^Yi. — The bride is 
pretty, only she is blind ; — To those who praise 
ironically. 

KxkXia, appatrriav si; to ffwfAci, vag c/,(jlu.Qiu.v '? tw 
•J/vx'fiv. — Better have disease in the body, than ig- 
norance in the mind : — Plato in Hipp. Min. ex- 
presses it thus : Tokv ydg toi piiZfiv ^z uyuQov 
\gyu.ffu u,pa.&iu.$ rtuvo'u.s rhv ^v%yiv 7i voerov to 
treafaz. 

KaXXia va <n Z,r,kzvovv, tfugu. vol tx zXzouv. — Better 
to be envied than pitied : — This sentiment occurs 
in Pindar Pyth. Od. I, v. 164. 

x.giffo'wy yo\{> o\nTigfi,m tpQavos. 

and Sophocles in his Ajax, v. 157, has expressed 
very justly the cause of the preference : 

Ugo; ya.o tov z%ovP o tySovos zgtfu. 

Xcckkta tzvtz zucSovvcc, vtkqoI %iXi<z TgoSc&Tu Bet- 
ter five coals than a thousand sheep : — To those 
-vvho prefer keeping by their first profession : For 
a coppersmith, being once urged bv his friends to 
391—397 



PROVERBS. 65 

try his fortune in a different path, answered as a- 
bove. The proverb is also used to signify, that 
things necessary at the moment, however cheap 
or trifling they may be, are preferable to other 
things of which one has no immediate want. 

Kakkix to ff'/ifjctoivov aiiyov, 7fa.oa. r'/jv a,lotv'/)v oovtGa. 
— Better an egg to-day than a chicken to -mor- 
row : — That present good, though small, is better 
than the uncertain promises of futurity, however 
large. 

KukXtov tvcc; tpgcvifto; i}£Q(>0Si •7fa.oa. 'iva Z.ov^Xov <pi- 
y.ov. — Setter a wise enemy than a foolish friend. 

yia V . — Better cabbage with peace than sugar with 
grumbling : — Mediocrity combined with tranquil- 
lity, is better than riches imbittered by the crav- 
ings of discontent. A sentiment nearly similar 
occurs in the Medea of Euripides, 124. 

Tav yag ftirgioiv TTgcora, ftlv ilvriTv 
TouvofAtx, twee, x^riirSai rt f/.cixeaj 
ASiffTa, figoroiirtv. Ta B' vwi^uXXovr 
Ovhiva. Kuigov 'bvva.rai B-v/iroT;. 

The proverb, however, may be explained in another 
sense, thus : "I would rather you gave me little 
with a kind welcome, than much while you seem- 
ed to reproach me with it." 

KaXX/ov y/oyia, 's to ^co^atpi, va^a. (/.ayyava '$ t 
akuvi. — Better words in the fields, than flails on 
the thrashing floor .- — It is better to agree in time 
than come to an open rupture. 

KaXov rvo'tov us irnuXXivov TOfzdgiov., — Good cheese in 
a dog-skin : — To one who has a good quality par- 
tially concealed by a bad one. — It is customary 
with the Greeks to use skins for packing up and 
397— 40g 



66 GREEK 

protecting articles of commerce. Sheep-skins and 
calf-skins, however, are used for this purpose, and 
they would revolt at the thought of using a dog-- 
skin. 

KcifAcioovu 'erxv tfayuvi, xai yvtiivu xgiugio yctXa. — 
He is proud as a peacock, and calls for rani's 
milk : — To worthless fellows assuming conse- 
quence, who arrogantly demanding impossibilities, 
expose at the same time their ignorance, by shew- 
ing that they suppose them attainable. 

Kapuoovit V«v t^v vv/u.<P'/iv. — He looks at himself 
like a bride : — To those who put on airs. 

Y.a.f/,1 zxkov 's tov AiaSokou to %co{>i'ov. — Do good 
to the field of the Devil: — Speaking of those who 
repay favours with ingratitude j to whom also these 
two lines of the Anthology are applicable : 

•buZXos avyg, wifos \ffri rir^fiivos' zh ov utfuirus 
'Avrkcov ra? %agiTCCs, us kivov i£i%tci$. 

KdfAS (£& <r^o<p^Tt]v, vol ffi xdpw vrXovo-iov. — IMake me 
a prophet, that I may make you rich : — To those 
■who promise on conditions that can never be ful- 
filled. 

Koiftz rguTMtv its to vtgov. — Make a hole in the 
water : — To him wbo says what is silly or trifling. 

Ka^nAfl? \ffi6vi/.'Affa,ffa xigaTX, z%cc<ri zai to, avria 
t-/is. — A camel wishing to have horns lost his ears 
too : — To persons of a mean and selfish disposition, 
who, through envy of another's advantages, lose 
their own. The proverb is borrowed from the 
1 97th fable of iEsop. 

Kci^nXo; hri b'vou. — A camel upon an ass : — Applied 
when a powerful man oppresses and tramples upon 
one who is dull and stupid. 
402—409 



PROVERBS. 67 

Kaurikcu (tvtitraMxitt. — The rancour of a camel : — 
To the obstinately unforgiving ; the camel being 
so. 

Keifi'/is, wa,$r<i ) xcifiid /ayi ffov vrovitrr,. — If you do evil, 
and suffer for it, let not your heart be stung by 
it: — "VVe should submit with patience to those 
evils which we bring upon our own heads. 

Kd.fjt.vii t'a'j traxxofpatyx (hiXovdxi. — He makes a pack- 
ing needle into a tailor's : — To those who, while 
endeavouring to magnify what is great, through 
ignorance, only lessen and debase it. 

KukvoZ ffxiu.. — The shadoio of smoke: — To men 
who are very thin and-emaciated. 

'K.xffoiavou l^dgi^av ycftdgtov, xoc) to rygut'c rd ^ov- 
ria, — They made him a present of a beast of bur- 
den, and he examined its teeth : — To those who 
receive kindnesses with an indecorous curiosity. 

Kas7<9.'«y dyyd^iucrccv, y.a.) uvro; Ixaftdgoviv.— They 
demand of him his statute-work, and he eyes him- 
self with pride : — To those who will not believe 
that one is serious in forcing them to any thing. 

Kdtfov '/.ccXoZv ooyocva. — Instruments are somewhere 
sounding : — To those who pretend that they do 
not understand what is said to them. 

Kdwa. lu'TrXovv. — Double Kappa : — Enigmatically 
to a bad man, there being two Kappas in the 
Greek word xa&os. 

Kurd to. if'jivf/.ara., xai rd aiffOvftuTu,. — Like mind, 
like sentiments : — The following is an example 
told of Voltaire. A Swedish officer who was well 
read in the works of that author, and one of his 
great admirers, in passing through Switzerland, 
came to Ferney, expressly to pay him a visit. 
The philosopher not feeling inclined at the time 
to see any bodv, bade his servant inform the 
410—418 



68 GREEK 

stranger that he was not at home. The officer 
disappointed in his expectation said, " I am very 
sorry I have missed the monster." This answer 
having been reported to Voltaire by the servant, 
who durst hardly tell it to him, the philosopher 
was so much struck with it, that he sent his ser- 

; vant on horseback, to request the stranger to dine 
with him. 

Kara ro fcztpdXi /aov o\ tf^otrnwiu According to my 

head I make my bow : — -It is enough if one does 
what he can. 

Kara rs yAyov/^av, xa) ro pavrurf&a. — According to 
tlie cheek, so is the slap : — When any thing is done 
proportionally. 

Kara rov 2 o u $ vn^irarus. — You act like Mr. 
Hush : — i. e. You neglect your education ; and 
your ignorance will throw you into great per- 
plexities, from which unlooked-for circumstances 
can alone deliver you. This proverb is deriv- 
ed from the following anecdote : — An Archbishop 
of Cyzicus, remarkable for his ignorance, was 
obliged to preach the funeral sermon of a lady of 
quality who belonged to the neighbourhood, in con- 
sequence of the unexpected absence of the person 
intended for that purpose. He, with great reluc- 
tance, began to stammer out something by way of 
introduction, in which, among other things, he said, 
that the deceased had incessantly repeated to him, 
that she felt she was dying ; till one day in his 
impatience he said to her, trou$, hush. The good 
Archbishop pronouncing this word with consider- 
able force, blew out the lights, and this served as 
a peroration to his discourse. The ceremony pass- 
ed on, and' terminated to the satisfaction of the 
Parson, who answered well enough for the time 
418—421 



PROVERBS, 69 

in which he lived, but would have made a very 
awkward figure in our days. 

Kara, to Ta^rXeofix, xai ruv vrodcov ro \d.'7TXu^,a,.—' 
Extend not your feet beyond your blanket : — 
Every one should suit himself to his circumstances. 
The word txtXcu^o. for •x'i'xXwfJi.o', from rriTrXov, 
or , <xu.<7rXwy,ot for \(pot,<TXu(jt.a.. 

~K.oe.rce, ro vru^avvfjuov erov not,) v\ yXutrord, gov. — Your 
tongue answers to your name : — Two neighbours, 
one surnamed Proco, and the other Kalpe, argu- 
ing together, began at last to taunt each other. 
Kalpe, inflamed with foolish anger, said, you grunt 
Mr. Porco, for Proco ; and Proco wittily answer- 
ed, your tongue, Mr. Kalpe, (x.dx<z"/i, pitcher) 
answers to your name ; that is, you cannot re- 
strain yourself, but your tongue goes like water 
from a pitcher. 

Kciri riro, kva xciri rofaytv Something there was, 

and something has eat it: — To a person suspected 
of having stolen something ; an indirect way of 
accusing him, that his conscious guilt may betray 
him, by affecting his look and demeanour. 

Kan Xu.kx.ov \jq 'a (pu.v>cc. — The pease-pudding I see 
has a hollow in it : — To those who indicate by 
their manner that they are anxious to ask some 
favour ; for pease-pudding, as the Greeks prepare 
it, requires oil. 

Ka'^s pi, xai fidki y,6^a. — Burn me, and soften it 
with snot : — To persons wbo have done us a great 
injury, and afterwards attempt to soothe us with 
flatteries. 

K' Iftrfgo; ficJh, yJ Ivriffa pivfta. — A pool in front, 
and a stream behind : — To those who are beset 
by two evils, and know not in their terror which 
to avoid first. 
421—427 



70 GREEK 

KsQaXi z&av&i* — Addled head: — A metaphor taken 
from eggs, meaning an empty head, xi(pdki dlno. 

K.' 71 X07XIVOV TOV CC'Jh^/X, T7,S f/.\ rods ToayfM&tturd- 

Iccig. — Even the sifter has put her husband among 
the merchants : — To men of trivial acquirements, 
who presumptuously place themselves on a level 
with men of superior information. It resembles 
the moral of JEsop's YSlih Fable : ot rols xgstr- 
rofftv dpiXXufAZvoi. Trpo; rat \xiivuv (m\ ityixvUffQai, 
xou yikwros otpki/rxuvovo'i. 

Km%o$ uvoct. — He is a Chinese : — Meaning one who 
is quite an original. 

Kivviff o'E&gaTos, x %Xu%i 'SdZ&arov. — The Jew set 
out on his journey and stumbled on the Sabbath : 
— On meeting unexpected obstacles. 

Koxxakov J i%zi a kbyos. — The expression has a bone 
in it :■ — When a thing is difficult to be understood. 

Kooe&xois xoodxov [AcLrt Tiv IQydvst. — A crow does 
not pick out a crow's eye : — To a man who defends 
the bad conduct of another, because he is in the 
same scrape himself. 

Kouxiov nro, x ifftfouriv. — It ivas a bean and split in 
two : — It is used to express a striking resemblance. 

Kovxxo; dxa.1^0; rov xgbvott f/,h kakwy. — May the 
Cuckoo next year not cry out of season . • — A 
sign of misfortune, for when the Cuckoo is heard 
out of her time it is considered a bad omen. 

KovxxovZdyici Tzra^sv. — A. screech-owl has flown : — 
A good omen. 

K«^s xkuvd^iov, xa) xruTfoc rov diga. — Cut a switch 
and beat the wind : — To a stupid person. The 
following lines addressed to one of this character 
are ludicrous and apposite : 

"EffZiffi rov kv%vov fiu^es, ^/vkk&iv vvro tfokkwv 
Atzxvbpsvos, k'i\«,s, obx %rt p,% /SAisrsrs. 

428—437 



PROVERBS. 71 

Koa'ivu y yu, Qkuuoii xcu civl^a.: pet). — I decide, and 
my husband prates : — To a babbler who attributes 
her own infirmity to another, unconscious of its 
application to herself. 

KeurUv Tu).i7rou VitrrroTO., ayo^ut^i x.ou -rlvi. — I 
have wine to sell, Reverend Sir, buy and drink ; — 
That we should not expect benefits for nothing, 
but return like for like. 

Kooy.ohii>.ov 2a.Kova. — The tears of a crocodile: — 
To those who pretend to sympathise with misfor- 
tunes which they themselves have caused. It is 
said that the crocodile weeps over his prey before 
he devours it. 

KovSn tov yXtov fjd to xatrxivov. — Be hides the sun 
with a sieve : — To those who attempt to obscure 
the lustre of genius by weak and inadequate expe- 
dients. The proverb is designed to shew that true 
merit surmounts every obstacle, and cannot remain 
long concealed. 

Kovov trtoYigov xru-zae. — You hammer cold iron : — ■ 
Applied to things impracticable. 

Kri£u Itt) cLppov. — lie builds upon the sand ; — To 
those who indulge in false hopes. 

KuxXojto; ^uoiu. — The gift of a Cyclops : — A dan- 
gerous gift, because the Cyclops promised to pre- 
serve Ulysses alive till he had eaten all his com- 
panions, as we read in the Odyssey, I', v. 345. 

Oi,Tiv lyu tfu/zarov 's&ofjcca (jlitu ot; Irdooitru 
Tou; V ciXXovs ffgotrfcv' to Vi roi |-/v'/?/sv jV<t«/. 

Kvotx. vj%tcc. — Darling night : — To the excessively 
indolent, because such persons long for the night 
when thev are relieved from their labour. 
438—445 



72 GREEK 

Kvgic&xk %uguti07ri<;rt?ci> xa) ^ivri^cc pi/^s^i'jirj!,-. 

Sunday in mirth, and Monday in murmurs : 

To a young scholar who rejoices with cheerfulness 
and vivacity during the continuance of his holi- 
days, but betrays an opposite state of mind on re * 
turning to his lessons. 

Kvrru^t tov xcidgz-z-rw. — Look at the glass : — To 
persons who have too favourable an opinion of 
their own appearance. 



A«£j ft'/ioh, xa) xguriii xaXd. — Take nothing, and 
keep well : — That is, abstain from what belongs to 
others, and guard well your own property. 

Aayo; 7ri-7r$gt 'itryri^t xara, tjjj xitpaXrn tou. — The 
hare sowed pepper against its own head : — To 
those who contrive schemes which issue in their 
own ruin. 

Axyod g»sj» Tfi^vaii. — He lives the life of a hare : — 
i. e. He is a coward. Demosthenes uses a similar 
expression, "kayw fiiov 'i^ns* See p. 174, I. 26, 
of my Edition. 

Aaxzuv cikXov iirxa^/i, xa.) o 'i%ss sVscs. — He dug a 
pit for another, and he has fallen into it himself : 
— which the Psalmist in Ps. vii, 15, expresses 
thus : X&xxov u)ov\i xa.) avurxa-^/iv avrov, xa) Ift- 
-Xiffiirat %\$ fc'oS^ov ov ilgyaffara' and Hesiod." E^y, 
xa.) 'Up. Lib. A', v. 263 : 

Ol O.VTM XO.XU, TiV^U a\r,o c&XXw XCCXK, T-V^UV, 

*H ll xaxh (ZovXh 7? fiovXivo-can %axi<?r>i. 
446—451 






PROVERBS. 73 

Xuzrifff&a Tn? T^ooxrivx;, %x°x rou Xvxou. — The 
kicking of the sheep is the joy of the wolf : — The 
pinches of the beloved fill the lover with rapture ; 
whence it may be observed, that nipping andscart- 
ing, by way of wooing, are not peculiar to Scot- 
land. 

AeiV o ya.ro;, xai %ot>iuovv rx <TovTt;iix. — The cat is 
absent, and the mice dance : — Young persons in 
the absence of their superiors, oftesi^xhibit a scene 
of riot and confusion. 

Aiuxhv o-rci<pvnv, tl; kzuxov TtMati — A ichite line, on a 
tchite stone : — Applied to things obscure, or to 
persons of dull apprehension ; for a white line can- 
not be discerned when drawn on a white surface, 
there being no distinction of colour. Sra^vj? iEo- 
lice for o-TxttfA'/i. The ancients used the same pro- 
verb, XiVKM \'i8a), Xivx-h (rrd0{£'/i. 

Aouu? /&$, fffSViZsts fM, i^iu^oj <ris p zy'-vv/ariv. — You, 
wash me, you comb me, but I know ivho gave me 
birth : — To persons who are insensible to the kind- 
est treatment, and seek for pretexts to justify their 
ingratitude. 
At/^viav iv Tl^vrxviiw. — A lamp in the Prytaneum : — 
An ancient proverb^ used when speaking of what is 
abundant and lasting. It is thought that irgwru.- 
vitov comes from truths rx t ui7ov, a storehouse of fire, 
or of ?rvgo$, corn. Pindar JYem. Ode si, v. 1, says: 

Uxi'Psx?, xyi Tt^urxviia XiXoyfcKs, 'Eirria, 

where the Scholiast explains the passage well by 
saying : Tl^vrxvt7x cp'/ict Xx%iiv rsjn 'Eo-rixv, m- 
ootrov ffA tu'j ffoksav iffTixe Iv rot; tfovrxvuois a- 

0t^OVVTXI, KXi TO IS0OV KiyofAiV09 TVO iff) TCVTUV 

affOHtirxi. 

452—456 D 



74 GREE] 

M 



jMss^s yioo yguppara, ruga '; ra yzgdpara, rvtpXa 
K.ou ffx.ovbdpp.ara, — Old man, now in thy old age, 
learn letters, (which are to thee but) blindness and 
stumbling ,v' r Applied to what is done out of season, 

MdO'/ipu ^tpd'^pa, "duo zaku pa6'/ipara. — Learning 
and unlearning are two good lessons. 

Maivopivas ®zog irigeo ®iu vri^ovrt ffa><pgoviZ,irai. — 
A furious God is restored to reason by another sober 
God : — Pure wine when diluted with water is pro- 
portionally diminished in its intoxicating qualities. 

Max.oov ro vrgoo'ipiov. — The preamble is long ; — To 
those who wish to come to the main subject at 
once, and are therefore impatient under a load of 
introductory matter. 

]\I5? lyivv'/iffiv h x.orra '$ r r /iv ffzovQiav. — The chicken 
has laid an egg in my cap : — Tauntingly to sig- 
nify a trifling advantage. 

M«s '/>khv sh rhv l^utpavtriv. — He has come to us at 
the close of the web /—-That is, at the conclusion 
of some transaction. 

Maraias %vvirai ro vsgov. — The water runs in vain „• 
— To men who waste their words on those who 
will not hear them : for, when the ancient Greeks 
delivered their speeches, the time they occupied 
was measured by a water-clock. 

Maria capogtyu, dvffrvp^iffpiva xfigiu. — Fair eyes, un- 
lucky hands : — To men of genteel appearance, but 
who are struggling with poverty in consequence of 
their unconquerable habits of idleness. 

Mavg'/iv ru%yv zi^a, uvbgu ) °—ohoi iTrviynxav ! x.a) ffv 
457~4§5 



PROVERBS. 75 

\yiguri$ ; — Dark has been my fortune, husband, — 
all have perished ! and have you only returned ? — 
Applied to the grossly wicked, denoting that they 
deserve to be execrated even by their nearest re- 
latives. 
IShyao'-av o^dx^ua. — Megarensian tears .-—To those 
who weep insincerely : — The Megarenses had men 
eminently skilled in this kind of weeping, whose 
business it was to bewail the dead, and hence the 
proverb. 
Msya to trropa, rou %oovou. — The mouth of this year 
is large : — A productive season, like a full purse, 
gives a man confidence in speaking. 
Ms yuftvyv tyiv xi<paX'/,v. — With bare head: — To 

those who rashly expose themselves to danger. 
M' ixoXX'/uri V«v tyiv xoXXyiTtrida. — He sticks to me 
like a burr : — To a person who clings to our heels 
in spite of every expedient to get quit of him. 
This is a common proverb in Scotland. 

Ms xVttu'^zi '<rav o avxo; to (piyyd^i He looks at 

me as a wolf does at the moon : — That is, with 
malignity ; for the wolf, they say, fixes his eyes 
fiercely on the moon as if enraged at it, because its 
light is unfriendly to his nocturnal depredations. 

Ms KVTTuZ.il 'ffUV TO 9Ta.lVl V %%lff& '$ TO. figUXid TOV. 

— He looks at me like a child who has in his 

breeches : — To a man who looks at another with 
a timid and dejected air, from a consciousness of 
having done something to offend him. 

Ili/./ bi'i^vn, <pa,£f/.u,xi tTetfAaZfit. — He shows honey ; 
he mixes poison ; — To a hypocrite. 

Ms |sW xo'aauQu (taxagi^u tou; yoviovs tov. — With 
another's boiled corn, he celebrates his father 's me- 
mory : — To those who devote to a good purpose 
what is not their own, or what thev have acquired 
465—473 



76 GRfeEK 

by unlawful means, N. B. It is customary among 
the Greeks to hold a kind of anniversary in honour 
of the dead, and on that day to distribute among 
the poor a sort of pudding or bunn formed princi- 
pally of boiled corn, but rendered palatable, especi- 
ally among the great and wealthy, by a variety of 
more costly ingredients. This ceremony appears to 
be derived from similar observances among the an- 
cients. 

Ms |£voj <7TTiQu, a-Tokt^rai. — He decks himself with 
another's wings : — To those who arrogate to them- 
selves the merit of services performed by others. 

Ml vfcruvrov a%omov va. xqt^aa&v^ 2ss> xcLTetbi^irxi. — 
He deigns not to let himself be hanged with every 
kind of rope : — To those who cherish feelings of 
vanity even in circumstances of the greatest igno- 
miny. 

llt^olouXi, fjt,i^o<pdyi. — The day's work, the day's eat- 
ing .•—To those who gain nothing by their labour 
beyond their daily expenses. 

Ml ra %tx.a. /u,ou <r« "ki&dgia, (t\ $a,g{is.—~ You pelt me 
with my own stones : — To bad debtors, who, with 
the money which they have borrowed, bribe judges 
to connive at their dishonesty, that they may es- 
cape making payment ; as if we should say, you 
use my own money as an engine against me. 

Ml rot Izarov's rhv (pvXuzyv, xa) (C% ra, x'iXiix, f/Xaa. 
— For a hundred yon go to gaol, and for a thou- 
sand no worse. 

Mivo&p oaxrvXov xai ovu%o; ritfori %lv %agu.—~ 
There is no space between the nail and the finger : 
. — The malevolent strive in vain to sow discord be- 
Ween good and virtuous relations. 

Msr«|y 9rccibl&>v yigav, (j.i<ro&p oi yigovrcav Tfat^tov.—^ 
Among children, an old man, and among old men } 
473—480 



PROVERBS. 77 

a child ; — To men of trifling acquirements, who 
appear learned among the ignorant, and ignorant 
among the learned. 

Ms r u-ovtu. xov^ivsrxi. — He gets himself shorn with 
the sheep : — To men of weak understanding and 
childish habits. 

Mera rov avytpogov xaT'/itpogo;. — After an up-hill comes 
a down-hill : — Prosperity is generally followed by 
adversity. This proverb resembles the saying of the 
ancients : sulia, Wciyu vitpo;. The English use a 
similar expression : Every height has a hollow be- 
hind it. 

Me <rhv k^aba, 'i^tToci to xauKakiov. — The jug comes 
to us in turn : — All men have their share in the 
enjoyments and distresses of life. 

Me <ry\v a.gabu gov, a$ ncrca xai Tu^ci;. — In your 
turn, though you be a priest : — No circumstance 
of rank or station warrants the slightest encroach- 
ment on another's rights. Justice throws every 
such consideration out of the scale. 

Me <77jv l-fftfxovhv to <x!k\> ti$ xu<)vtfo£clXkii. — With 
perseverance one surmounts all difficulties : — Si- 
milar to the saying, 

Tjjj ItftftiXzias ^ouXa tfdvToz y'tyviTay 

Me vi\v <ffi<r<ri xeti ™ (Zouvx, xeitfoTS avTa/AovovTai.—* 
By faith even mountains are sometimes made to 
meet : — That we ought never to despair of meet- 
ing with our friends, even when circumstances ren- 
der it highly improbable. The origin of this pro- 
verb is well known to every body. 

Me to Kitpdhuiov, xa) to ^idcpo^ov. — Along with the 
principal, the interest too : — To those whose pu- 
nishment, though slow in coming, overtakes them 
at last with proportional severity. 
480—4-87 



78 GREEK 

Ms to HoffHivo r^ttZu, n^'o. — He draws water with a 
sieve: — That is, he makes fruitless efforts. 

Ms tov ayxuva, tripoyyi^sTai. — He wipes himself with 
his elboiv : — To a coarse, dirty, and vulgar, person. 
Diogenes Ldertius uses also the following phrase 
in his Bion : o ttoctyi^ f/,\v qv aTskiuOzgo;, tm 

Uy-AUVl CCffOfAUfftOfAlVOS. 

Ms tov onc'ov gov <pdyi sr/s, xcu <?r(>a.y(/,c&TUa,v (//</) no.- 
ftv/i;. — With a relation eat and drink ; but have 
no mercantile transactions with him : — Quarrels 
are usually the consequence. 

Ms tov yjXtov tcc IzGuXXofASv, (/% tov '/jXiov tu. \[/£d).- 
Xoftiv, ti z%ouv to\ 'ig'/ifta, x,ai •^atpovv ; — With the 
sun we let out the sheep, and xoith the sun we 
bring them in ; what is the matter with the crea- 
tures that they die ? — To those who manage their 
business carelessly, attending to it only at inter- 
vals, so that instead of gaining they lose by it. 

Ms tov xcchnTiQov cov novKiu. pM ffvrugys. — Don't 
sow beans with your superior : — To those who, 
though comparatively ignorant, exalt themselves 
to a level with men of extensive learning. 

Ms tov xuX'/iTzqov oov <pa,yz cr/s, xx) vqffTixos u.o"/iz.a. 
— With your superior eat and drink, and rise 
fasting. 

Mjj fihzT'/ig to Ti xsifAvw, tXtiv ccKovi ti Xiyu. 

Don't look at what I do, but listen to what I say: 
—To those whose actions are inconsistent with 
their words. 

M'/j *oa.vii<r87is uTo ^toj^ov, k irtdgu ffi xutotiv. — 
Don't borrow from a poor man, for he will be in- 
cessantly at your back: — It is unwise to solicit 
favours of inferiors, for they always make a boast of 
them, and act as if thev had a perpetual title to ask 
488—495 



PROVERBS. 79 

favours in return. Phocylides also has very well 
said : 

Qivyi xt>r,irTYis xa.x.ov sfi/xivat u.v%c>o;, 

Ms? ri tr avirurtn $3ov; wctoci xccigov utfouriuv. 

2>ih 1uvu.fji.ivo; o n S-sAs/j, B-'iXi o ri %uva.o-a.t. — When 
you cannot what you will; will, what you can. 

yih Z'frTH ft'ovov vu, tpccvr,;, aXX« kou va y:>y;- — Seek 
not only to appear, but also to become : — To those 
who are content with an empty smattering of 
knowledge, and covet more a reputation for learn- 
ing than learning itself. This sentiment is found 
in JCenophon's Mem. Lib. /■>'. c. 6. § 39. : <ruvro- 
fj,UTccT'/i ti xai a,<r(pa./\i(Tru,T'/i xat ;s«aA<<?T5? obo;, 
o n av (hou'A-si loxtTv aya6o; uvcci, tovto xxi yv/z- 
a@u,i ayc/Jov Tru^aoSai. 

M*j x.oif/.a.cai ictfo yAocv ftov/iv iXTi^a. — Do not hang 
by one hope only : — Epictetus expresses it thus : 
ouTi vavv \x /lcik; uyxvga;, ours fitov Ix (Ma.; IZ-tti- 

%0; O^fAlffTiOV. 

3I'/i ku/ryiffcti rov Ivririu,, on xps/hovtui tu. t'ooiu. -rov. — 
Don't pity the horseman because his feet hang 
down : — To those who speak of things useful as 
if they were injurious. 
M«» axou; hot, xat va x^/ivn; "%vo.< — Don't hear one, 
and judge two : — That is, hear both sides before 
you judge. 
31*7 KaT/iQ-'Az ro f/AQpiyyt. — Don't trample tipon the 
ant : — Don't insult or abuse a man because he is 
your inferior. No man's enmity is to be despised. 
The very circumstance of his inferiority, by'induc- 
ing contempt, may facilitate his revenge. 
M'/irz fioi%irai, (irir n'ktaZ,ira.i. — He neither wets 
himself in the rain f nor scorches himself in the 
495—502 



80 GREEK 

sun : — To those who have nothing to vex or an- 
noy them. 

]Ms7ts AikSoXov va aTtuvf/nr'ASy (sssiti pa<Xiff(t.a rov oeu- 
ff'A%. — May you neither meet the Devil, nor give 
him a slap ;•— We should avoid dangerous ren- 
counters. 

jVl^rs f&iXi, yAn ftslJffffiet. — Neither honey nor bees : 
— To those who rather sacrifice what is useful than 
bear a little annoyance. 

ldr:?z ogyQfts 'IffiVt (/Ati fjd rtiv ukavrouv fM&kkovu. — 
J have neither chickens, nor do I quarrel with the 
fox ; — To those who hate scandal, and wish to live 
at peace with their neighbours. 

1s1'/>ti 6 fffivk?.o; Tguyn to a-^v^a, p,riTi <rov yaoa^ov 
ic.Cpj.vu va. tu, (pay/,.- — The dog neither eats the straw, 
nor -permits the ass to eat it: — To the envious who, 
even when they cannot enjoy a thing themselves, 
are unwilling to see it enjoyed by others, 

Mrirz to ucvrgov \ivq%i, (/Art to [au,v(>ov> — He cannot 
discern white from black .'—Used to mark extra- 
ordinary stupidity. The same phrase is used in 
England. 

Mrin to xgta$ va xa-n, (A'atz to eov&ktov. — Neither 
the meat nor the brush should be burnt:* — We 
should not only avoid what is glaringly wrong, but 
observe the proper medium in all things. 

M'/iTj t owltrai fiXzvru, ft'/iTi t i/u,tfgo$ tcvttu,Z,u.- — 
He looks neither behind nor before : — To an im- 
prudent man who derives no benefit from past ex- 
perience enabling him to avoid threatening evils. 
Perhaps this proverb has its origin in the follow- 
ing line ?f the Iliad, a. v. 16 : 

O? KOH TO, T 20VTK, TO. <T IffffOf&iVtt, IfgO T loVTOt* 

"hi-ATi rvtp'/.ov c^'/iyov, fifai avorivoi) ffVfiGevXov*' — Ne<- 



PROVERBS. 81 

ther a blind guide, nor a stupid counsellor : — i. e. 
Let me have neither, fyc. 

M/«v <pooav r, aXatTou il; rriv trayidx. — The fox slip- 
ped but once into the trap : — It is wise to take pre- 
cautions against the recurrence of what we have 
already suffered. 

~Miaovonrf*a rod ydrou '/itru%a>ri ra. vrowixia. — The 
mewing of the cat has silenced the mice : — When 
the chief is present, inferiors are kept in awe. 

>L«j aviyftHs vvrofAov/i, lixct %povojv pa^dri. — A. 
moment's patience is a ten year's comfort ; — Ex- 
amples of this are frequent. 

Tsha. rov tyiXou, ^vo tov QiXov, rpuz — za) t^v zazriv 
rov piga. — Once to a friend, twice to a friend, 
but thrice — and it is his fatal day : — Meaning 
that we can pass over one or two failures in duty, 
but a third usually exhausts our forbearance. 

ftia "^v^ti, y-ou $uo ffetificaTCi. — One siul, and two 
bodies : — To those who are strongly attached to 
each other, and have a striking conformity of tem- 
per and habits. 

Mmpov ViXicig o^uoiov rfiavn yAycc. — A. little bait 
catches a large fish : — To those who make small 
presents and receive large ones in return ; and to 
those who are easily bribed to the greatest wicked- 
ness. 

IShzoov kmXov Tvj 'zt'/iQa.; ; fAiyav ys/i foSt^iZys ! — Have 
you not whipped a little bottom ? threaten not a 
large one ! — To parents who do not punish their 
children for their faults when young, and therefore 
when older they despise their authority. A foolish 
indulgence to children, at present too common, 
fosters those evil propensities which, gradually ga- 
thering strength, turn at last to the misery of those 
510—517 d 2 



82 GREEK 

parents who are guilty of it, when it is too late to 
apply any remedy. 

Jiiv6o? ■4'iu/^artvos Vzv uvat. — A fable is not false : — 
That is, it does not deceive. The very title puts 
us on our guard against deception. It may be ap- 
plied to those whose character for falsehood is so 
notorious that no one ever believes them. 

MvXog'oo; uffai. — You are a milord : — Meaning, 
you are a great traveller. The origin of this is 
easily guessed. 

MuXog p.1 yJriXa Tiv ylv&rau — A mill is not made 
with apples: — Schemes of great utility cannot 
usually be put in execution without proportional 
expense. The Greek words p.vXo$ and pnka, pro- 
duce a very graceful paronomasia; the u and n 
having nearly the same sound. 

TSivs yi.upfje.tvoi vletf/is. — A mouse tasting pitch : — ■ 
To those who get into disagreeable circumstances, 
whence they find it difficult to extricate themselves. 
See Theocr. Idyll. t%'. v. 51, and his Scholiast. 

~Ma>£vi f&l tov ttiXixw ! uv?h fii to -^/ccXt^iov.- — So, 
you huzzy, with the hatchet ! but she, tvith the 
scissors : — To headstrong persons who will always 
have their own way. 



N 



Itr^aroy^ov Call the lizard a buffalo, and the 

ant of venerable years : — This proverb is applied 
to those who, after haying lived to a mature old 
517—523 



PROVERBS. 83 

age, desire to live still longer, until, as often hap- 
pens, they lose their faculties, and mistake one thing 
for another in their dotage, Hke little children. 

Na, — no.) la; pi, — x,u.£a, fiiya.X-/i. — Here take, — and 
give me also, — great joy /—Mutual services sweeten 
the enjoyment of life. 

Na, x.uod yitr'oviffffu, to h»$v ftov <r b'vouu. — Take, 
good neighbour, my name : — That is, bear my re- 
putation. To bad women who would reduce ladies 
of respectability to the same character with them- 
selves. 

Na {p-vcreu tojw, (prvvtu <rh f&ov(>n ftou' va (prvffca zoi- 
™, (prvvm <ra y'zvuu f/,ov. — If I spit high, I spit 
upon my face ; if I spit low, I spit upon my 
beard : — A proverb used by persons in perplexity 
what course to pursue, when the alternative is 
either to injure themselves, or some of their con- 
nexions. See p. 98. 

N&»£ov yat>yu,Xi£ii. — He tickles a dead man : — De- 
noting that one's words and counsels are vain. We 
say also : zaQov, xouSovvia x av »<ru&as> vszoov 
»' av S-upiu^'/i;, x,a) fAt^utry.ivov av XaX*??, oXa %a,- 
(&ivK <ra,%a$. — A. deaf man, if you strike the hell, 
a dead man even if you fill his nostrils with in- 
cense, and a drunk man if you speak to him, you 
will equally lose your labour. 

Nex^ev ffKor'ont. — He kills a dead man: — Meaning, 
he boasts of gaming advantages over one who is too 
weak to offer any resistance. It is in this sense 
Sophocles makes Philoctetes say 3 v. 946 : 

FJ ovh. oJV haigav vttigov, n zutfvav cxidv, 
JtfibctiXov oiXXas' __________ 

Ylnffr&vii o ^oukoi 7ov &iov, oti vu <pdy/i ti Tzv %x u ' — 
The servant of God fasts because he has nothing 
523—529 



to eat : — To those who endure privations from ne- 
cessity. 

T$ifAo$ <ro}.zw;, rrcXiTou zuhdSita. — The law of the 
city, is the respect of the citizen : — The efficacy of 
the laws depends upon the respect of those who are 
subjected to them. 

~Kbfji.au <pb£o$, uQo&la, fj.syd.Xy,. — The fear of the law 
is a great security : — He who fears the law and 
acts in conformity with it has nothing else to fear. 

~Kvx.ro. yivva 'Etfiffx-oTov, x ccvyo MvrgotroXir'/iv. — 
Night produces a bishop, and an egg a metropoli- 
tan : — Many changes take place in a short time, 
and according to the following two verses : 

Alaiv tfdvra tpsgu' ^o/\i%o$ X(>bvo; zi%iv d/x,zi£uv 
Ovvoy.a, xou /lco^tiv, xu) Quffiv, '/M <?v%9iv* 

~K'JZT0$ l(>yb%Sl/>0'J TO fiXilf 'A '/jfASgU KCit yiXa.il. 

The day sees the loorhnanship of the night and 
laughs : — Things cannot be done well out of sea- 
son. 
~Sup<P'/i, o%i xa,6u$ yZzugzs, dXXa. xa,6ug r,u^zs. — 
Daughter-in-laio, not as you know, but as you 
find ; — That we should accommodate ourselves to 
the customs of the country,- or of the family with 
which we come to be connected. There is a pas- 
sage very much to the same purport in Euripid* 
Med. v. 233 : 

E;? x-utvu. £' %6'/) Koi voftppg d.^nyfjtivm, 
Ai7 ftdvriv uvea, {ayi fjt,a,6ovo-av o'/xohv, 
" Ory (/.dXtffru. ftftfosrai %uvivvzt'a. 

529—534 



PROVERBS. 85 



Hjvs {Ztov zaXokoyuoiaa'Tov. — Another's wealth is 
well counted : — To those who use means to ascer- 
tain the amount of another's fortune. With re- 
gard to the word /3/ov, I have made some remarks 
in a Note to Lib. «. § 30, of my Edition of Hero- 
dotus, preparing for publication. 

Sjvaj <r'ov»; \uhiopu.. — Another's suffering is but skin- 
deep : — To those who are insensible to the distresses 
of their fellow creatures. 

£;>« %Pu/u), hxoi 7ov Vovrtu,. — The bread is another 's, 
the teeth his own :— To a parasite. 

'Sigokoxxiufffitt, 'a 7rgoff6JVt$oi rou Ih to \iuoii ! — His 
mask knows not red paintl-'-To an impudent un- 
blushing fellow. 

S$vott o Kioa.f/,u.$ tov rjjn y.«£jjv vd (hd.k'/i. — Tlie pot- 
ter knows where to place the handle : — To men of 
superior shrewdness and °Hnagement. 

=.ivgi v u<xa.r'/t<T'/,:, >? ftriv xhraTx;. — Know how to 
deceive, or do not deceive :■ — Those are imprudent, 
looking merely to their own interest, who engage 
in intrigues when they have not ability to l elude 
detection. The ancients had a proverb to the same 
effect : g\<xu.t'/\s a,ya.6r t $ obx a-ffoffrctrii Qia$. 

^.oiotin r uuyo, xai vtaoi to fcaXXi rov. — Shave the 
egg, and take its hair : — Corresponding to the 
Scotch proverb, It is ill (i. e. difficult) to shave an 
egg : or, Ye canna tak the breeks affa Hielandman. 

Zuvov xoaffioVfO-^/oioiov figeufAiov.— Sour wine, and stink- 
ing fish : — To those who partake of no one good 
quality. 

535—542 



86 GREE 

o 



O up,u()ri$ S-gaffu?.. — The ignorant are courageous : 
— When a man knows not danger, he is much, 
more enterprising than when sad experience has 
made him distrust his powers. Which is also very- 
well expressed in Thucyd. Lib. B'. § 40 : kpuGlu. 
fjch S-gutros, Xoyiffuos T& b'xvov (pi^u. 

'O eLvfycaffos v-^ovu, »at o x.xiqo$ ffra.8f//^tu — Man 
raises up and time levels : — i. e. All human en- 
terprises and their monuments are lost in the lapse 
of years. This absolute power of time is very well 
described by an ancient poet in the following dis- 
tich : 

Qiihinrui, ukku. piy tfuvr okixu I^VoLvy. 

The proverb admits of a somewhat different inter- 
pretation : Man rais.„* up, but time weighs :—~i. e. 
Man performs certain actions during his life, but 
these are judged by posterity, which affixes to them 
either the seal of approbation, or the stigma of con- 
demnation. ' 

e O ugxop&vos %6(>os <raga ru^a yUtra.i.~—The dance 
which is beginning will take place presently : — i. e. 
Have patience and you will soon see how the mat- 
ter goes. 

'O u,v6iv<7'Ai Xoyov fAovoffvXka.Gov Xzyu<~—The master 
speaks a monosyllable :— -That is, yes or no, but 
servants, in defending themselves, need many words. 

"O fiXa^o? a,^x uv * a ' & v ysy»j, vroikiv sr^tiria? pvgi- 
£u.~=-The shepherd, even when he becomes a gen- 
543—547 



PROVERBS. 87 

tleman, smells always of the lamb : — To proud 
rustics who, even when they attain to riches and 
high offices, betray, by their manners, the mean- 
ness of their origin. H^/iria. is the bad smell of 
those lambs which are called srgiwJifM?. 

'O A/a£aXoj 'y'tha. Ih u%i, xat ru^t IvrouXn The 

Devil had no goats, yet he sold cheese. 
'O AtaZoka;, orav <ffTu>%6v'/i, riXuvr^ yivinrai. — The 
Devil, when he grows poor, becomes an exciseman : 
— To persons who, falling into poverty, and being 
of a bad disposition, resort to dishonourable means 
to procure the necessaries of life. 

'O 2i\]/izcr{jt,svos -rlvu fii (ticot'/iv The ?nan that is 

thirsty drinks in silence : — The prudent can never 
be induced to reveal their secrets. 
c O £^<wv yo^ya. ffrd/xivet, yo^yog sca,t iKiroZc&r'/!;. — - 
He who has a swift animal is also a swift rider : 
— To those whose wealth gives them extensive in- 
fluence. 
'O 'Hyipwv l-^'oQwffi, to uXoyov atfidavt. — The prince 
has dropped down, the horse is deceased. — When 
words are improperly applied. 'E^oQyfft is used 
for a beast, and avi&avi for a man, but a Walla- 
chian, who did not know the niceties of the Greek 
language, when reporting the death of his prince, 
employed the former, and for the death of his horse 
he used the latter. 
'O S-av&iy uipdov'/iTos. — The dead man is unenvied .- . — 
For, as Pericles says, ( Thucyd. B'. § 45,) rov yug 
oIk ovrcc vras zltti&iv iTFccivsiv' — Q6ovo$ ya^ <ro7; £*J<n 
vrgos tov avrivraXov- which Mimnei'mus had be- 
fore expressed thus : 

Aavo) ya^ uvlioi rfuv-zs 'ifff4.lv ihxXiii 
Zatvri (p6o'j7jffcn. kkt^uvovtu o' urAffca, 



88 GREEK 

Lebrun also, in the same sense, says ! 

" On n'aime que la gloire absente : 
Les yeux sont ingrats et jaloux." 

'O @ios vu c\ (pvXu^'/i uto xgiazovrov 'EGgulov. — ■ 
God keep thee from a bankrupt Jew : — We should 
avoid all pecuniary transactions with an impover- 
ished miser. 

c O B-vfiuiras %'dufisvu. — He who has been angry be- 
comes cool again ; — Time abates the most violent 
passion. 

0/ ittiigoi 1\v xu^n^odv. — Opportunities do not wait : 
• — In every concern, we should be careful to seize 
the favourable moment ; for, if allowed to pass, it 
may never return. " Time and tide," says the Eng- 
lish proverb, " wait for no man." What Dionys. 
Hal. Ant. 11. p. 699, expresses thus: /u,u06vrzs 
on oh roTs vrQuyf/.uo'tv ot xuiqg) 'Sovhiuovfftv, a.K'ku 
ro7s xutgoT; to, <ffQuyfAU.ru. 

Olxofav o'tKubi. — From the house to the house: — 
When presents are made to members of the same 
family, as from the husband to the wife. On this 
expression consult Pind. Olymp. vi, 167. vii, 6. 

0/ (AiyuXoi x'tvovvoi, "hioovv xui ftzyuXu; npu;. — 
Great dangers give also great honours : — A senti- 
ment which Thucyd. (A'. § ^B'.) puts into the 
mouth of Pericles when enlisting the Athenians in 
the war against the Peloponnesians : sx <ri nZv pt- 
yia-nuv xivlvvuv on xu) vroku xu) lhdr'/i fifiynrrui 
nfAu) vzgtyiyvovrut. 

Ol wofovvrie d\ (for I?) pik y/i^u y/iQutrxouv. — Those 
who long, grow old in a day : — Meaning that their 
impatient desire makes a day appear an age. The- 
ocr. also, Idyll. /£'. v. 2, says : 

— ol ol tfofauvrss lv rtf&un yyi^ffxavtriv. 

' 553—559 



PROVERBS, 89 

Oi iroWo) Qikouv vro?.\a., o Movu%o; oc-vo bka, — The 
many wish many things, the Monk a share of every 
thing : — Denoting the avidity of the Monks. 
0/ TokXoi x,a.ott,£oKVQOuoi w'tyouv to zaguGi. — Many 
commanders sink the ship : — With respect to the 
word KuguZi, see my Edition oiDem.pro Corona, 
p. 274. 

'O x,u&oit{>a.s va. og^Wa^V/? Tiv iftccfav. — The crab has 
not learned to keep his legs straight ; — To those 
who obstinately persist in what is wrong. 

'O zeagoe Qiqii to. ^vXa, xa) o ^afjcuv <ra uyogaX^n. 
— The season brings the wood, and the winter buys 
it : — That we should conform to times and cir- 
cumstances. 

'O xax,o; fJt,uXo? 'i%li xeit xaxov ci'^ova. — A. bad mill 
has also a bad pivot : — To those who have nothing 
good or useful about them. 

s xccxos %Qio)(pii7Ji<rn$, obV a^vi7rce.i, cbol vrXwgovu.— 
The bad debtor, neither denies, nor pays. 

'O xccxo; %Qovo$ 5TS£«" o §s x,uko; ysircdv f/Ava <tfu.vru, 
— A. bad year passes ; but a bad neighbour re- 
mains always. 

•i Oxvivfjca ruv Tobuv, snJJg zciXtus iktztpgaitric .— The la- 
ziness of the feet is the lightening of the belly .•— 
To those who are hungry in consequence of their 
idleness. 

'Oar/i^ov o s%&>v, ^r^o<P'/;T'/iv %x, u ' — ^ e w ^° ^ ias a 
sluggard, has a prophet: — To those who from 
laziness invent many obstacles ; as, I cannot go out, 
it is going to rain, &c. 

'Oxvog fitx^xv v<7ru.yu, mi a.x.tt.(£u.<nrn hvrXot 2ovktvsi. 
— A. lazy man goes far, and he who shuns labour, 
labours doubly : — To those who are naturally of 
an idle disposition, and in consequence choose, 
without reflection, what appears shortest and least 
560—569 



90 GREEK 

troublesome, but who from tbe difficulties they 
find in it, subject themselves to more labour. 
^Qxvo? vraihia Ytv xa.fjf.tii, xai uv ra xa.[/s/i Viv tfoox'o- 
£ouv. — The lazy man begets no children, and if he 
does, they make no progress: — What is under- 
taken with laziness is never attended with much 
success. 
O y,'o(tfjbo: uv Tangos. — The world is a wheel: — 
Applied to one who, dressed in a little brief autho- 
rity, conducts himself haughtily : as much as to say, 
" my turn will come." Herodotus beautifully ex- 
presses this sentiment, Lib. A'. § 207. IxsTvo 
"Tf^uirov (*.u.h, a; xvxXoz <rav avfycotfriim iffri Tgyy- 
(j,a.rojv' <srzgi<pigo(Jiivo$ £e, olx \a. ceil rovg aurovs 
zurv%Uiv. 
O xoa-f/.os i^iovit,iro, xa.) n y^a. l%zgo%rivi'£iro. — 
Every one was suffering from snow, and the old 
woman kept combing her hair : — To those who, in 
a moment of danger, occupy themselves about 
trifles. 
O xofffto; Toy^u (iouxaviirr'/i^ov, '/iftu$ xovtpov fJLVSTri- 
giov. — i The world has it by sound of trumpet, and 
we are making it a profound secret: — To those 
who fancy they are concealing what is known to 
every body. 
' OxraTooisv xiQa.'kTi. — A polypus's head : — To mix- 
ed characters. It is said that the head of this 
animal is very pleasant to the taste, but that it 
causes disagreeable dreams. 
'■ ' OxravroYiov opotorys. — A likeness of the polypus : 
— To those who conform themselves to others in 
vice. For that animal, when it wants to deceive 
and take its prey, assumes the colour of the rock to 
which it adheres. 
"OX» pat avdvnXa, na) o yupos iau.% tjjv <«fg«o>5v» 
569—576 



PROVERBS. 91 

— All our affairs are crossways, and our marriage 
is on a Wednesday : — That day is considered un- 
lucky. See p. 33. 

'OXa fjb'iaa. 'ivrurav Every thing is fallen in : — To 

those who tell what is disadvantageous to persons 
of superior merit. 

"OA« to. 9fa.Xa.ia, ufjca^a, x.a.i ra. vrXouffia. tp^ovifjca. — 
All that is ancient is beautiful, and all that is 
rich is wise : — To those who censure the present, 
and praise the past, and who stupidly think that 
the rich alone are wise. 
OA« to. <T7()a.ba. xa/u.dju,ara h vufAtpy) [tag rd xd/u.vn. 
— Our daughter-in-law does every mischief: — 
To those who lay their own faults upon others. 

"0\n 'h 'ivvoid pa,; r uvSgo; pov 6 S-dvarot. — All our 
concern is the death of my husband : — To the in- 
different. 

• Oktiv rhv '/iftioctv z,a.Xoyidvvyi, xa.) to fipdou xa.xoyt- 
dvvvi. — All the day, good John, but at night, bad 
John: — To bad masters who, by flattering ex- 
pressions, induce their servants to work hard the 
whole day, but in the evening depreciate their ser- 
vices, and give them a bad supper. 

t! 0>.oi ftl h fidih~iov xdfivofAZv, — We all labour with one 
ox: — To those who are placed in the same cir- 
cumstances, and liable to the same accidents ; cor- 
responding to the English proverb, " we all sail in 
the same boat. " 

"OXot {At <rd <rgo%aXa, xa) av ftl rd kt0dgict.—All 
others with pebbles, and thou with stones : — To a, 
friend from whom we have experienced worse 
treatment than from our enemies. 
'OXot %ukov, ulro; lu.v'k'iov. — All the rest have a staff, 
and he a brand : — To one who obstinately adheres 
to antiquated customs. 
576—584- 



»s GREEK 

: 'Okci 01 YvQrot pid yvjsd — All the Gipsies are one 
race : — To those who are all equally bad. 

" OXot ttgoZv, xai 'yu ^taScciviu. — All pass, and I go 
through them : — To a man of the world, who 
makes himself equally agreeable to all, without 
attaching himself particularly to any. What the 
French would call : c'est un diseur de bonjour. 

' OXov re (luioiov i@dyc.fiBv, axi's rhv ov^av a.<ffo<r<ru.(?a.- 
/u.iv. — We have eaten the whole ox, and tired at 
the tail See p. 45. L 12. 

'OXvxo? xu*i olv appaia-T'/ia-i, x.cu dv IxaXoyzgevfa, ro 

ftak?Jov rov aXXa^t, rv\v yv&jfx.r,v o^t. — Although 

the wolf has been sick, and although he has become 

a monk ; he has changed his hair, but not his dis- 

^position. 

e O >.vno; f/A fiyyvfiura, uov'tcv <Xor\ 3>h r^ayn. — A 
wolf never eats a sheep by messengers :— —To those 
who entrust affairs of importance to the agency of 
others. Considering the prevalence of neglect 
and villany in the world, the prudent never com- 
municate to others those schemes upon whose suc- 
cess their interest is suspended. 

*0 Xvxo;, orav yygdo"/;, z,a) ruv [uzgcHv ffx.ut.Xiuv 
tfuiyviov yivtrai. — When the wolf grows old, he 
becomes the sport even of pups : — To those who, 
after being distinguished in youth, are despised in 
old age, even by the worthless. 
O Xvzo$ rhv r^i^ dX\dZ,a, rm yvt>j{tyv o%i. — The 
wolf changes his hair, but not his disposition : — 
It is also thus expressed : o Xuxos k dv sytgtttrs, 
rhv yvejft'/i rov }lv aXXa^t.-— Though the wolf is 
grown old, yet he has not changed his disposition : 
—Nothing is so difficult to change as a bad disposi- 
tion. The ancients likewise said : Qvaiv tfovAgd* 
f/Arcx,SaXz7v oh pd^iov, 
585—591 ' 



PROVERBS. 93 

"0>.av ra uvro07ipix,ra, il; h xaXoToiiov. — The boots 
of all upon one last : — To ignorant quacks who 
prescribe the same remedies for all diseases. 

'O Mavo/.^j fti t« Xoyioz ari^ dveoy-a. xou xa.701- 
yueh — Manoles in words builds high storeys and 
low storeys „•— To those who make mighty pro- 
mises which evaporate in mere words. 

O fjt,ri i%wv vr'oSiv vd trix/rlft, Tiuvirat aal dxo yu//,vov 
ff-7roc6iov. — He who has nothing else to catch at, 
catches even at a naked sword: — To persons 
driven to desperation. See p. 61. 1. 17. 

'Oftfyov s%u •xa.TQpxx,. — He has the birth-place of 
Homer : — To men of distinction whose birth- 
place is unknown, or at least disputed, as Komer's 
was, for which honour seven cities coutended, 
whose names are preserved in this ancient distich : 

'ETra toXus %11^'t^ovffi ki(h f't^av 'Opnoou, 
~2{a6()vu, 'Toons, Kokoipuv, ~2a.Xu.fjuv, ~X.io;, * ' A^yo;, 
'A6r,vai. 

"OfAOtos tov ofioio x 'h xotfgid t« Xd%ava. — Like 

loves like, and dung the cabbage: — The German 

say : Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gem. 
'O pvXos X a i t; Vi g° v Sw dx'ihi — The mill does not 

grind without water: —Without the necessary means 

the best formed plans cannot be put in execution. 
r O vsfyos 7ov Xiov7u. — The fawn (has got the better 

of) the lion : — That is, the weaker has overcome 

the stronger. 
' ' Ovuoivt7GU xat fih xoifMifjoiVos. — He dreams even 

without sleeping : — To those who indulge in wild 

fancies. 
'O v'/]ff7ix,o$ pccrdvtoo ov-igiuzrxt. — He who is hungry 

dreams of radishes : — To those who enjoy, what 

they long for> in imagination, 
592—600 



94 GREEK 

"Ovou •xittti/.u. — The stubbornness of an ass : — To the 
excessively obstinate. 

'O 'jou% rov ffaiXiou &U <ro ns-X(>i. — The mind of the 
bird is on the millet : — To those who, in their 
words and actions, betray absence of mind. 

c O vovg rov ffX l i u T g'% av > x &' rov "^vkXov (ZsiXXzi 
a.va%v^ct$.—~His mind splits a hair, and he 
puts trousers on a flea .• — To those who boast of 
then* fitness for very nice and difficult undertak- 
ings. 

'O |s»«j avwratjiren, wkyiv T$v S-zgaTzvirat. — The 
stranger rests, but is not cured : — i. e. He cannot be 
quite himself till he returns home. 

r O tfcifo; $iv' ixT^os.—He who has suffered is the 
physician : — Because he knows best how to soothe 
the afflictions of others. They say also : pr, p&>- 
T r /)%ris rov largov, pbvov para, rov <7ru.6'ov. — Consult 
not the physician, but him who has suffered. See 
p. 41. 1. 10. , 

c O-t' kx.ov; vroXXu, Kt^affia, QuarvAVi [/.tzgo koc.Xu.6i. — 
When you hear of many cherries, carry but a 
small basket : — Wben great professions are made, 
expect but little. 

c O crzivatrftivo; ydoxgo; \u\iai$ Bsy (ji.it qu.ii. — The 
starving ass does not count the blows ; — The poor 
man is often forced to bear much in silence for the 
sake of getting the bare necessaries of life. 
O vrzrzivo; Wzru^z.- — The cock has flown : — To hi 
who comes too late, or having been absent when 
something interesting was said, seeks in vain to 
know what it is. 

c O Uztqos siv rov UauXev, k b IIuvXo; siv rov Yiz- 
toov. — Peter is Patd's, and Paul is Peter's : — 
To those who love each other to excess. Two 

1 persons so called, who were inseparable friends and 
601—609 



PROVERBS, 95 

perpetually seen together, were thus designated by 
the neighbours. 

'Ocr' 'ix,^' v^otaTf ix, u ra » * °rt° v <ra fcoGKU, rouya 
ret. — He who has the sheep, has them, but he who 
feeds them, eats them : — To bad debtors, who 
keep, what they owe, for their own pleasure or ad- 
vantage, and feed their creditors with empty hopes. 

c O tfviXoe S.v §£v "bccoSr,, xioccfjco; %\v yiviTxi. — If the 
clay is not beat, it does not become potter's clay : — 
It is impossible to arrive at excellence without hard 
labour aod diligence. 

' Ovoict KovipSL u3*«vo££U£<r«/, <puvsgd 7ro[/,<z'ivt<rai.—- She 
who marries secretly is defamed openly. 

"Ooretov dayx.a,<r n ^iXcuvoc, TTori f/,?iv vyiuiv/i ! — Who- 
ever is bit by the turtle, may he never be healed ! — 
To good men who never do serious injury to any 
body ; the bite of the turtle being so feeble as to be 
quite harmless. 
Otfotov £sv ctyutfovv, tcou to. %voru. too (o^uf&ovv. — 
Wlioever is not loved, even his breath has a bad 
smell : — Said of one who is unjustly hated. 

"Ovroiov }\v ^ioq&ovh "k'oyo$, y.v^i poiS^o;. — Whom advice 
will not correct, the rod ivill not .• — To the incor- 
rigible. 

"Ovroio; uxovzi x'oo-uov, KcxTpov iwaigit. — He who hears 
the world acquires elegance : — To him who hears 
the sentiments of gentlemen ; because among the 
other advantages which he derives from it, bis taste 
and manners are improved. 

"Ovroio; uva,you\ta,Z,ii, a.; \\i^u.ffri. — Whoever loathes, 
let him vomit : — To repugnance. 

"Otfoto; fiKgvvzroci, u; %z(pogr&>o-'/i. — Whoever is over- 
burdened, let him throio off the load : — To those 
who, doing a voluntary service, complain of the 
trouble it costs them. 
609—618 



96 GREEK 

'Ofsrtj /3/«£sra<, y/igdgu oyX'fywoa.—He who over- 
strains himself grows quickly old : — We ought not 
to be too anxious about any thing, but proceed to 
whatever we undertake with proper coolness and 
deliberation — " the greater burry, the less speed." 
"QcTfl/o; fiouXirou x7ro£pcc!>u;, zl; ffrt^yyid^ov fyf/.tpovzi. 
— He who wishes in the evening, in the morning 
finds himself in an enchantment : — To those who 
dream of future greatness; it being natural that 
those who think of any thing in the evening should 
dream of it during the night. 

^'Otroios Tiv ulii <n7%o;, uhi xdfjuvov x,ui ^avrop&irs. — 
He who has not seen a castle, looks at a furnace 
and admires : — To green-horns. 

"Qvoio$ Tzv B-iXu vd Z,vf/.a<r'/i, oX'/iyApa H,oo-4.m%,ii.-^~ 
He who is tmwilling to knead, sifts flour the 
whole day : — To those who do one thiDg as an 
excuse for not doing another which they ought, 
but are unwilling to do. 

c Ocro.oj ixdri 's 70 l^it/Tov, (puffdn Ttou to xpvov. — He 
who has been, burnt by the hot, blows even upon the 
cold : — To those who, in consequence of having 
suffered, ever after suspect injury even from things 
that cannot burt them. 

"Owoio? sfM&fe, Iuo-koXu. urfzpxfa. — He who has learn- 
ed, unlearns with difficulty : — i. e. IHs difficult 
to get rid of bad habits when once contracted. 

''Qtfotos hrgirfirat, ttoXax zukd ffrtoivzrctt. — He who 
is faint-hearted deprives himself of many good 
things : — English : " Faint heart never gained fair 
lady." 

"O-rotos Ipurdu, eh a'k'f.o'fjt.ovdit.-^-He who asks, does 
not forget. 

"Ovoios sWs<££, fih rd S-$giff'/i.-*-He zvho has sown, 
may not reap: — It sometimes happens that one 
619—627 



TROVERBS. 97 

labours, and another reaps the fruit of his la- 
bour. 

' Oxs/oj iboiffx.ii, %<z.iosrzi, xa) o-Toies yvcoolff'/i, irrx-.ai,. 
— He who finds, rejoices, and he who knows, takes. 
O-roio; tXi-i afA^riXiov, a$ pccky loydrx;. — Let hint 
who has the vineyard send labourers to it : — He 
who has use for any thing, is the proper person to 
look after it. With regard to the word ioyxTVi, 
see the learned Note of Coray in his Edit, of Xen. 
Mem. Lib. A', c. vii, § 2. on the expression ~'{c,- 
yov axohu^ccffduu 

''O<roios £%u yinuet, vouyu ipuota. — He who has a 
beard, eats fish : — To those who have the means 
and power of doing what they please. 

"Ovoic; £%$! %wo ciXoyov, u.Kro^ooy,)$ TiZ.zv-t. — He 
who has a horse not his own, goes halfway on 
foot: — What is not our own does us but little 
good. 

' Ottoio; s^h to/.u titioi, (~>eikXu xx) '; tu. Xx%xv<z. 
— He who has plenty of pepper, puts it even into 
cabbage : — To those who, abounding in money, 
throw it away on what is not necessary. 

' Otcic; s%zt T ^ y^vna, s%axai to. %rzvix. — Hewh<> 
has a beard, has also combs : — Applied to those 
who give indiscreet advice ; as much as to siy, I 
have made my calculations. 

"Ovqiq; £%£* tov t'o'jov, <piou rov, 01 al yurovz; not- 
fiai'jTxi. He icho has pain, bears it, but the neigh- 
bours sleep: — To those who, in their sorrow, ex- 
perience no sympathy from those around them. 

"Oto/s; \n ,«' iXtfilixt;, xToSv'Affxu /&' ccvtf/,ou$. — He 
who lives with hopes, dies with the winds : — We 
should strive to improve our circumstances by ac- 
tive industry, and not soothe our indolence by vi- 
sionary hopes. 
627—635 

E 



rS GREEK 

"Osfoms tyeu, a; Zuvirai. — Let him who shall be 
alive, gird himself : — Tauntingly, to a selfish, per- 
son ; as for instance, one who allows his children 
to shift for themselves, having no care of what 
raay happen after his death. 
0~c:ci xivru, rov ya^ccoov, azc-jst ru.)$ iroohu.U rou.— 
"Whoever pricks the ass, hears its revenge : — We 
should not provoke bad people, lest they let loose 
their foul tongue upon us. 

"Othcc '$ rh %ioi (or rnv fyooiv) TiotrunT, rhv $u- 
?.tzGcav yv^ivzi, o AidaoXo; rev xumv rov, y.our.ta 
rev uayit^ivu. — Whoever traverses the dry land, 
and explores the sea, the Devil behind his bach pre~ 
pares a dish of beans : — Or, in plain language, him 
vrr.o quits his home, and ransacks sea and land in 
pursuit of wealth, the Devil or his own evil desti- 
ny spurs on to his ruin. 

'O-TTCic; '$ tovs Xoyov; gov S-acft7, ra. Xoyia gov 557- 
crivit, 's T'A'J S-xXccgguv vricivzi Xccyo x.ou 's rri'J \r.- 
guv ■■Icicvju. — Whoever trusts to your statements, 
. : lelieves your words, catches a hare in the 
sea, end fishes on dry land : — To one who is un- 
worthy of belief. 

"J-Tcc; C^'cii l^i^KTO, US fO KlVaXlC'J roV TC& iVOi- 

erzst. — Whoever pounds falsehoods, finds them on 
his mate : — To those who, saying what is false, are 
i . rid by being called liars. 

"Oiretas Qrvit rev av/i<po(>ov, <prvu ro <7rooGM<7r'e-) rov. — 
Y/hoever spits upwards, spits on his own face : — 
i. e. Ke who despises his own relatives, dishonours 
himself; or, o<7rov <pru rev evocevdv, <prz7 rot. (aovt^x 
rev. — He who spits towards the sky, spits on his 
own face. See p. 83. 

"Qrcv s.akouv KoWoi Virtivo), uoyii va fypt^uGr, 

When many cocks crow, the day-light is slow in 
636—642 



PROVERBS. 99 

appearing : — Meaning, that the counsels of a mul- 
titude c: weak men tend to fetter and obstruct, 
rather than to promote any desired object. Homer, 
B. iii. v. 151, ^although intending, upon the whole, 
to give a favourable description of the Trojan sena- 
tors, compares them to balm-crickets, probably to 
represent the noise and weakness of their speeches. 

Tr,cui on -7TcKifJt,cio fiTuvfAVJOi, aXX' a,yo^ r /jTce,\ 
'EffdXot, TiTTiyictv loixoTtgf oin x,u.$ vk'/iv 
&-VS6ZUJ iy-Cic/zivsi b'vcc XugiCiMrcccv luffiv. 

'Offou 'vczi aakoooiZixo;, yivva, xai o aoaorrcs rov. — 
For him who is lucky, even the cock lays eggs. 

"O<jiou o aafffMs #«J o Ko<r/u,Zs. — Wherever there is a 
crowd, there is Cosmas : — To one who thrusts his 
nose into every thing. 

'Otou rouyu XtvoKovm, r^ayn <ro 'votLdfturcv rov. — 
He that eats fiax-seed, eats his shirt: — To those 
who destroy what may be the means of future ad- 
vantage. 

"Ovou QcZcs, ixti zat hr£o<#Yi. — Wherever there is 
fear, there is also respect: — To those who, 
through fear, pretend kindness. 

"Ottcv Qtvzgvv tfoWoi, T'/iydoiov yivirat. — Where 
many spit, there is formed a well : — The vote of 
a multitude carries weight with it. 

"Ovov <pTu>%oi, yj h pol^u. rov. — Wherever a poor 
man is, there also is his destiny : — To him who 
is always unfortunate. It intimates how difficult 
it is for a poor man to rise above his condition. 

"Oxa; vr^u&u xuQ'tvcts S-a xotp'/ityj. — Every one will 
sleep as he makes his bed. 

''Oira Qoi%u c cv^avc;, 'h yrt xaraff/'vs/,— What the 
heaven showers down, the earth drinks up : — In 
allusion to the passive nature of the earth, which is 
642—650 



100 GREEK 

indebted for all its fecundity to the active influence 
of what comes from above, namely, heat and mois- 
ture ; but the moral lesson of the proverb looks to 
that higher source, whence we derive all that we 
enjoy. 

' Otrcc llv <pdu.tr 7) akwsohy r utpivu xgifAccffru. — ■ 
What the fox cannot reach, he allows to hang : — 
To the artfully wicked, who feign friendship, when 
they have no hope of accomplishing their ends. 

e O 2yift, 3la,ft, xu) 'la<pi6, ol vtot rou N<£=, vo7ov z't%ov 
Sia, Trari^a ; — Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons 
of Noah, whom had they for a father ? — Used on 
witnessing extraordinary stupidity ; for this ques- 
tion, put to a person who was passing his exa- 
mination, threw him into great perplexity. 

"Otrov If&vgos, unK-ro^a The more he advances, the 

more he retreats : — To those who, the farther they 
proceed, recede the farther from their purpose. 

! 'Ot?ov S-'iXtis, ftxvgz, viij/ov, xva fiiXay^ooi'A ffQay- 
y'tffou. — Negro, wash as much as you please, and, 
you with the tawny skin, sponge as much as you 
please : — To impossibilities. 

' OjOV X.0C.IQ0 {/' Uf/.tXli;, IfAlTQOVlTCt, <zocrxt; /Ltuiat; SiU.- 
fouvrav '$ rvv eloa <rov yuitou^ou. — All the time you 
spoke to me, I was counting how many flies sat 
on the tail of the ass : — This alludes to the case 
of a depraved daughter, who, when admonished by 
her mother, returned this answer as the reward of 
her pains. 

"Offcv o vov$ fjcou V *o ^w^a,<pit>7, rotrev va zvqiQovv ra, 
Quito,. — May the oxen be found, just as much in 
the field, as my mind is :■ — To those who take no 
trouble for the sake of others. 
Oiro; uffui <ra'jTU tpccivov, xui xoppian tfupc&xurw — 
Always appear what you are, and a little below it. 
650—65? 



PROVERBS. 101 

"Offa h hu^u <pion>. — To possess what was in ones 
dream: — i. e. Great riches. See Theocr. Idyll. 
9-'. v. 16, and his Scholiast. 

"Offrts }}; \vava.ynffiv, ahix,w$ x,wrnyo(>ii rov Hoffiihu- 
va. — He who has twice suffered shipwreck, un- 
justly accuses Neptune : — To those who repeated- 
ly expose themselves to the same dangers. 

''Orecv fiydv/i; zai Tzv fiv-vys, -ravn^i rov vrdrov <rtd- 
viig. — When you take out, and do not put in, ex- 
pect to reach the bottom. 

"Orav ^io'/i o Qics v a.\iv^i ) ivtaio o bsci.%o\os to trax.- 
xi. — When God gives flour, the Devil takes the 
sack : — To a person who ruins his natural endow- 
ments by his immoral conduct. 

"Orcev %i*\>u.'/\ h avX'/i gov, 'i\oj viqov fin x^ v V ? ' — When 
thy own court-yard thirsts, don't pour the water 
abroad : — If we have poor relatives, we ought 
first to give some assistance to them. In this 
sense, charity begins at home, and, afterwards, it 
should, if possible, extend to others. 

" Orcev \tfrpyizivis, (or, orav ffv x.ivovais^) \yu lyvgi^a. 
— When you were going, I was returning : — To 
an impertinent stripling, who would have his word 
go farther, than that of a person of great experi- 
ence. 

"Orav sTgtTi, cjv %€(>£%£) xct) rov Md'i'ov, l^iovi^i.—— 
When it ought, it rained not, and in May, it 
snowed.: — To what is out of season. 

"Orav ItuXouv, els ayogaXfis. — You should have 
bought, when I was setting : — To those who make 
unseasonable requests. 
Orav 'Hr,s ugxovBetv us tov yurovos cov r ceftvriXtov, 
%\<riffi T'/jv kou ils to Hixo ffou. — When you see a 
bear in your neighbour's vineyard, expect it also 
in your own .—A person should never be an idle 
658—666 



102 GREEK 

spectator, when his neighbour is visited by any ca- 
lamity, for if he does not assist him in removing 
it, he has good reason to fear that it may extend to 
himself. 

(M\ (poSyjffcu. — When they rob, partake not ; and 
when they advertise, fear not. 

'Oras- Xahauv ol zbga&zg, Qiuyovv r a'/ioovun. — When 
the crows sing, the nightingales take wing : — or, 
oi y/oGcix,*; ivrtcciXXovv ffiwrhv it; <r »n$Wi{h — The 
crows impose silence on the nightingales;* — When 
fools speak, the wise hold their tongue. 
Orav Xiy/,£, xal 2iv v ukovovv, to&,z to, on iicui '$ 
rov tt\)}.rj-j — When you speak, and they don't hear 
you, suppose yourself in a mill .-—From want of 
proper training, it often happens in social meet- 
ings, that, when a person in the company wishes 
to speak, and can speak well, some of the party, 
not feeling inclined to hear him, commence a se- 
parate conversation, and gradually every one begins 
to speak to his neighbour, till at last nothing is 
heard but a confused jargon of broken sentences, 
so that no one knows either what he says or what 
he hears. The inventor of this proverb condemns 
very happily the rudeness of such men ; as, in a 
mill, the rushing of the water, and the rattling of 
the machinery, render it difficult for those who are 
in it to make themselves heard, unless they have 
the lungs of a Stentor. 

"Crav o otxo$ r«y yi'iTows ffov xc&Urai, ^roivn^i ace) 
<rov hy/ov osu. — When your neighbours house is on 
fire, look to your own. 

"0<r«v vr&tvd'/i '/i a>.co9Tou, xuu.o\nra,i on %,oif/-urai. — 
When the fox is hungry, he pretends that he is 
.•—To persons who are poor, but at the 
666—671 



PROVERBS. 

same time cunning, and who use many shrewd ex- 
pedients to procure the necessaries of life : as the 
fox counterfeits sleep, when he wants to deceive 
and catch the chickens. 

"Orav <tqZ /Ayouv iru; ^S.:, fidc-ru. rov ro7%cj, <Xv>- 
yaiti. — When they tell you, you are drunk, hold 
by the wall, and go on : — It is sometimes good 
policy to yield to public opinion, and act as if it 
were just. 

'On aycc<7rci; jces, xkstsa' oti li fjtX f&itriT;, yi/.u. — JBe ■ 
cause you love me, I weep ; because you hate mi, 
I laugh : — The feigned love of an enemy is fa- 
vourable to his assaults, but when his enmity is 
declared, we are put upon our guard. 

"O n liv u^'oho-*;, fin to enjxaarys. — Do not lift, what 
you have not laid down : — To those who carry 
off what belongs to others. The ancients also said : 
a. (jw iSou, (A'/i unh'/i;. 

"O ti iZoiZ-, nxr'iZ'/i. — What it rained, came down : 
—To obvious consequences. 

"O t< itx. VJ *> yg%& '$. r °' J vo " v ?"£j voS&strt '? ra ovBi- 
qo'j t-/i;. — What the old woman had in her mind, 
that she saio in her dream : — To vain hopes aris- 
ing from meditating constantly on a desired object. 

"O rt zdf&v n yila '? rov loufoov, xdfAvit x o igv0ge$ 
's rbv y'ihm.. — Wliat the goat does to the sumach- 
tree, that the sumach-tree does to the goat :-— They 
say that this shrub is a favourite with the goats, 
and at the same time useful in tanning their skins. 
and that, when eaten down to the roots, it grows 
up stronger than before, and forms a more power- 
ful agent in preparing the skins of these animals- 

"O n rvQXa, n o ti f&ouv'Z, a.—i. e. There is no dif- 
ference between ttphla and mounza :— The-, 
words are synonymous, and signify the act of thrus:- 
671— 6T3 



104 GREEK 

ing out the hand with the fingers extended against 
the face of another in contempt. The proverb is 
used to express that one person is equally vicious 
with another. 

to7%o; tx u ^tiu, * h vr&hada ftdna. — The wall 
has ears, and the plain has eyes : — It is necessary 
to preserve a profound silence with regard to se- 
crets, for men are apt to found conjectures upon 
the slightest hints, and perhaps to find their way 
to the truth. 

O to 'ffgat f/y/j yiXuv, ft'/dl to ftitrnftigtov. — He who 
laughs not in the morning, laughs not at noon ;— 
To those who are always unhappy. 

G to tfgavav xaxos, to figccou %apoTigo$. — He who is 
bad in the morning, is worse in the evening ;— To 
those who are wicked from their infancy. It is 
also turned thus : avto to tf^ai QuivtTat ri xaXvi 
v/t/Aga. — A fine day shews itself in the morning. 
See p. 51. 1. 3. 

O Tgzkc; iio- tyiv X,a.(>iv, k l%dg'/i' o o\ (poovifAog i\u- 
vrvifci. — The fool saw a kindness, and rejoiced ; 
the prudent saw it, and was vexed ,° — The envi- 
ous are worse than fools. 

e O T(>i/2; xovoouvi 2h (ha.ffTu.it. — The fool holds no 
bell : — To those who behave themselves ill so pub- 
licly that no bell is necessary to make it known. 

O T£-Xo$ TOV fioVoklfff/AvO 'ffOL'J TO, fjCO.TlCC TOV T0V%%$l, 

— The fool loves the fool like his own eyes. 

OuV dyicv TC/igi f/,71 tu.^'/^, ovhi <za.ihiou (/axoov xoXXou- 
£i. — Neither promise wax to the saint, nor cakes to 
the child : — Better not promise, than promise and 
not fulfil. 

Oub\ ffv ira.'ru, 's to. Qutci, ovV \yu '$ tov ayiaff/uov 
ffou. — Neither thou priest at Epiphany, nor I at 
thy purification ; — To persons who are at vari- 
ance with one another ; as much as to say, I wish 
67S— 6S6 



PROVERBS. 105 

neither to benefit you, nor to be obliged to you. 
At Epiphany the priests visit private families, car- 
rying with them holy water ; and after blessing 
the people, they receive in return a voluntary gift, 
more or less, according to the circumstances of the 
donors. Purifications are made in general at the 
beginning of each month. 

Ouo^i rhv (/.vt'/iv tou va crQoyyiffy $lv £ivg<i. — He does 
not know how to wipe his nose : — To a simpleton. 

OuTz tov A't'truTov l<ra,rr t ffi. — He has not even hand- 
led JEsop : — To persons who are very ignorant. 
The ancients considered those as such, who were 
unacquainted with iEsop's Fables. 

Ouol vgivos iivcu, obll tztuptoc. — He is neither third 
nor fourth : — To a worthless person, — derived 
from the answer which the Pythoness made to the 
Megareans, who, proud of their nobility, went to 
consult her : — 

'T/uzT; V, u MzyxgzTf, outi tq'itoi, ourz rira^rot, 
Ours 'ovutixccroii out iv "k'oyu out tv ag;0/&£. 

These lines are found in Suidas, under vpu; u 
Miyoiot?;, in the Scholiast of Theocr. Idyll, xiv. 
v. 4S, and Tzetz. Chil. vs.. cap. 291, v. 890, and 
891. This last author writes Alyn7;, referring 
the answer to the inhabitants of iEgium in Ach- 
aia, instead of Megara. This oracle passed into a 
proverb, and there is found in an Epigram of 
Callimachus, upon one Callignotus, who had de- 
serted his mistress, ( Callim. Epig. 26. v. 5 and 6.) 
the following lines : 

Nuv §' o f/,h ciXX'/is o*k S-igirxi <xvo), rn? 6z rukatvr,; 
~Sufi(p'/l$, us Miyctoiuv, oh Xoyo$, out ugifaos. 

Ourz yisiv (for uymgov^y to ffTgw/u.a, oud' cippaffTov, n 
rjiehei&t — Neither the bed, the healthy, nor the 
686—690 E 2 



106 GREEK 

table, the sick, i. e. receives : — To those who can- 
not feign, and who cannot keep within the house. 

Oun fitXi ItpdyufAiv, oiirz h xcitdia. [*.u.s xotpru. — 
We have neither eaten honey, nor are our hearts 
sick with it : — He who is free from guilt, is free 
also from the stings of conscience. 

Ourt o 7r<re,j%o;, ovrs o k'oyo? rov. — Neither the beg- 
gar, nor his word : — i. e. Are good for any thing. 

Qvx) to. i\ai£xs>y.ivu,, akka. to. i%ig%oft$vc&.* — Not 
what enters, but what comes out : — This is said to 
those who are very scrupulous in observing Lent, 
and who do not on that account sin less with their 
tongue. The object of it is to remind them, that 
it is not what one eats that constitutes a sin, but 
what proceeds out of the mouth. In general, it 
may be remarked, that religion ought to be in the 
heart, and in the love which we bear to God and 
our fellow men, and not in idle Ceremonies, which 
are often nothing more than the mask of hypocrisy. 
See Matth. c. 15, v. 17, and Mark, c. 7, v. 18. 

'O <pisovifi.os av yiku.tr 6%, 's okiyov Tiv yzkiarm. — If 
the wise man be deceived, it is not by a trifle. 

'0%ta uTfo <ro tf^off'/ikiav. — -A. viper from basking in 
the sun : — To those who say what is harsh or bit- 
ter. From the ancient proverb : vrgoffnkia $%3va. 

*0%i uuyov, y/ovov xoxxov.—Not an egg, only the yolk : 
— To those who always repeat the same things. 

"0%i oka t« tf&Teaf&ivet xou TouyotrifAU,. — All that 
flies is not eatable : — To those who promise im- 
possibilities. 

'O %o/)rcL<rfASve$ rov vYiffrixov Viv rov tmirnvu. — The 
full does not believe the hungry : — What an An- 
cient expresses thus : 'ixatrros \x rut IViuv xgivu 
-a. akkorgia. See X, under ^o^raa-ju.ivos, &c. 
''''Q-^/ipas vtas pi xvgtv Ih S-sg/^si.. — The tardy sen 
reaps not with his father. 
690—699 



PROVERBS. 107 

n 



II«Aaja uXentev '$ rr.v xay'ita }\v Tidv-rai. — An old 
fox is not to be caught in a trap : — To men. of 
prudence and experience, who are not to be easily 
over-reached. 

IlaXaio; ya.ro; ayccvcc vevrtxia, via. — An old eat 
likes young mice : — This proverb is used with re- 
gard to old men, who, notwithstanding their age 
and decrepitude, attach themselves to young wo- 
men. 

UaXaio; \%6gos QtXos Sb yivirai. — An old enemy 
becomes not a friend. 

Hdv aXXou va, ra va\r,o-ri$. — Go elsewhere to sell 
them : — To those who relate fables, in which no 
one puts any faith, As if it was said : " You 
must go into a distant country to make these lies 
pass." The French say also ; a beau mentir qui 
vient de loin. 

Uavra. va. V o cr^arnyc; piv, (oya% lx.ru, ho) r^co- 
yit Yixa. — May my general live for ever! out 
of eight he spends ten : — Of a spendthrift who, 
exceeding his income, and keeping no order in his 
house, has the good wishes of those who profit by 
his profusion. 

na-rargj^aj. — Running-priest: — To a man who 
runs right and left. See the Prolegomena, in mo- 
dern Greek, of the second book of the Iliad ; Bo- 
lissian edition. 

TLa-ra Qayi, xai Lidxou fievxa. — Meal of a priest ; 
mouthful of a deacon : — To an excellent dish ; 
700—706 



108 GREEK 

derived from a certain popular opinion, that the 
higher orders of the priesthood are addicted to 
good living, of which they only allow a slight par- 
ticipation to the inferior brethren. 

Tiao'/iyo/itcc '$ tov cipp&Jirrov oitco v« %ii]/u%'sio"/i. — Con- 
solation to the sick, until he expires : — To those 
who administer vain consolations. 

Hug tov ha Kru-ffa <rov akXov. — Take the one, and 
beat the other : — To two persons, of whom the 
one is as bad as the other. 

Vxu.'ju, yro[A<X'/i fjtX rr,v -za^yogta'j vns uvea. — Every 
opprobrium carries with it consolation i — To those 
who seek to justify their own faults, by glossing 
over their motives ; or to those who find consola- 
tion in the attainment of their object. 

ttaffTgixij xaXti <dobu>ga, xai \aboffi(>z%vfi.ivyi I — Fine, 
clean Theodora ! and oil all over ! — To slattern- 
ly and awkward women. The word Tracr^a, 
cleanliness, whence srawrgnsos, clean, is derived 
from Tatrro;, synonymous with vv/uapcuv, marriage- 
hed, it being prepared with particular attention. 

TiaffTgizog V«» ftuZof&uyriko. — Clean as a pocket- 
handkerchief: — To .one who is not neat, and fi- 
guratively, to one who has not a clean conscience. 

Huyja Xoyta.. — Big words : — To great boasters. 

Uu%;ua zotXia Tzv Tifigs rnv vrvgirriv. — A fat belly did 
not invent gun-powder : — That is, he who makes 
a god of his belly, dulls the edge of his mental 
powers. The ancients have said : 

Taffrwo Kcty^Ciu,, Xztfrov oh rixru voov. 

ni'JTi $£Bia, T^'ia Z,iuyagta. — Five oxen, three pairs: 
— Ironically to a man of little intelligence. 

Tl'ivTi fivvas, % a.o r gd%rta. — Five months ; six spin- 
dles : — Ironically to lazy women. To the same 
706—715 



PROVERBS. 109 

purport as the popular Scotch song -. — The Weary 
Pund o' Tow. 

" I thought my wife would end her life 
Before she span her tow." 

The word aOoap^Ttov, or aSodxTtov, is from cctco,- 
x<ro$. 

IIs£< o'iou ex.t%;, — About the shadow of an ass : — To 
those who raise disputes about nothing. From the 
story of a law-suit between a muleteer and a tra- 
veller respecting the shadow of an ass, which the 
latter had hired of the former, who alleged that, 
although he had let the body of the animal, he had 
not let its shadow, and must have an extra remu- 
neration if it was made use of ; treated in a mas- 
terly manner, in German, by Wieland. 

Ih^tffff'iTioa a^viaxa,, <xago\ wgoZial. — More lamb 
skins, than sheep skins : — That life is exposed to 
more dangers during the season of childhood, than 
in maturity. 

Jl'iovai \xgw t K itpiros Iftvgiffiv. — Last year it was 
burnt, and this, it is smelt : — To things which are 
perceived when it is too late. 

Jliai KYiTu. m <rl Quyw. — Fall cake, that J may eat 
thee : — To one who will take no trouble for any 
thing ; or, to an easy -tempered man who permits 
himself to be led by his wife or others. Tlr,ra, is 
derived from kyigitu, and is also written kTittcl. 

IliS jitf u,z TToiov sr«j, va ci '<t&> to t'i aZi^n;.— Tell 
me with whom you go, that I may tell you your 
value : — Every one ought to take care with whom 
he associates, because it is natural to judge of per- 
sons by the company they keep. 

Ills TO, Ti? TO ! TO XOOiTPi iKd/Lti TYIV y^'AU. KBU 

S-i\u. — Repeat it ! repeat it ! — the girl has made 
715—721 



110 GREEK 

the old lady consent : — To those who yield at last 
to importunity. KogiTo-i, from xogierxiov. 

Tl'/ira vrov olv Tguiyus, <ti c\ yvoid^u ccv xa'ir,Tai ; — . 
Cake that you eat not, what care you that it is 
burnt ? — That it is needless to distress ourselves 
where we are not necessarily concerned. 

Hiatrz tov Tutpkov, x 'i<ra.^i <rou to, paTta.- — Seize 
the blind, and take from him his eyes : — From him 
who has nothing, nothing can be taken. Accord- 
ing to the expression which Lucian has put into 
the mouth of Menippus, who says to Charon, when 
he presses him to pay his fare, obx av kaSois <rugu 
rod ph '£%ovros. — From him who has nothing, 
you can receive nothing. An expression which is 
also used sometimes proverbially. 

YltOov 's to. xu./m$ Xzyftzya, a$ r hvai x air i%6go.-~- 
Listen to what is icell said, let it be even from an 
enemy : — That one ought not to be obstinate, when 
one is conscious of being wrong ; but, on the con- 
trary, to draw advantage even from the censures of 
an enemy. Hesiod also says, ( Op. and D, v. 
295.) 

'E<r6kos V av xaxt7vo$, as tu iltf'ovTt vrlDnrai. 

Ylkiu 'ffav to kali. — He floats like oil: — He throws 
the blame of his own faults upon others, and al- 
ways appears innocent himself. 

Ylb$'/i{£ ocr tov rbvrov ffov, as yv xaY fttrakkufitvov.-— 
A boot from thy own country, let it be even patch- 
ed : — The greater number of those who have not 
become cosmopolites will agree with this proverb. 

Uofev slvai to xkcuvaooixiov ; aero tovto to Isvlguxiov. 
—"Whence is this twig f " From this shrub :" 
721—727 



PROVERBS. Ill 

—To disorderly young persous, sprung from pa- 
rents of the same habits. 

Uo7o; 'itpayz to [a'iXi ; ovroiog ix, u r»jv fivlav '$ to 
ffziultov. — " Who has eaten the honey ?" " He 
that has the fly on his umbrella :" — To persons of 
a suspicious appearance. 

Uo7o; 'iy^ii ilg %t7gd; tou to ftiki, xoti olv yXiityu to. 
'hu.z.Tuku tou ; — Who has honey in his hands, and 

, licks not his fingers ? — To those who derive ad- 
vantage from the trouble which they take in trans- 
acting the business of others. 

Uo7o; Tca.XohccviiZ^iTai ; oToiog x.a.Xo<zX'/io'ovu. — u . Who 
borrows easily ?" " He who pays punctually.'" 

UoXifciyJ; yiu iTrapl'Sta,. — Military for the sake of 
epaulets .■ — To those young men who make choice 
of the military profession, rather for the uniform 
than for any other thing. The ancients had also 
the adage : yXuau; aTu^oo voXi^o;. 

TioXXd z\iuo 7i a.Xco'Trou, o B' dy.ccvtio^oioo; zv y.ou 7-.ct.X~ 
Xitzqqv. — Many things knows the fox ; but the 
porcupine one, and better : — To the most cunning; 
because the porcupine when it sees another ani- 
mal coming against it, shrinking within itself, e- 
rects its quills as a rampart. 

TLoXXoi cc7roda.f/,'i^ot xd.QnvTa.i '; tou uppuo-Tcu to xzQa.- 
Xi. — Many dead are sitting at the head of the 
sick : — Many of those who visit a sick person die 
before him. 

lloXX&i'j h rtiivu. yiviTcct liiba.iTy.aXog. — Hunger becomes 
the teacher of many : — Want often calls into exer- 
cise the industry and activity of the poor. 

Tloo'og zW 6 xd^ou^ag, xou tf'offov to (pay! tov ! — How 
much is the crab ! and how much his contents !-— 
To persons who are of no great value. 

Wosog o vvrvo; o-ou t net) too-ov Q'Mqo-j z'iozg l—Hozv 
727—736 



112 GREEK 

long thy sleep ? and what the length of thy 

dream ? — To those who affect impatience upon any 

subject. 
Hon xoXoxvvQicv, <ror lirr^dSuff' 'h ol^d rou ;— When 

has he become a gourd ? when has he bent his 

stem ? — To those who, while still in early youtk, 

perversely pursue an irregular course. 
Efe<rs— fCTJXa, <ffori — (pvXXa. — Sometimes — apples ,- 

sometimes — leaves .-—That the fortune of men is 

not always the same ; for, as Simonides has said : 

Ololv Iv avQauvroiffi fi.ivu xfit*' *pMf.&fov alii. 

Hon — Trtra xa) (pXtztrx), vron — <7r7i?ce, (i.ova.%'/;. — 
Sometimes — cake and bottle ; sometimes'— cake a- 
lone : — In the same sense as the preceding. @ka- 
crxt is derived from (pidXv. 

TIou % <zdyiii 'yftu ; 'vrdyo) 's tyiv ToKiv' dv a d<P'fi- 
ffovj, vrdyus xa) <7tu,oixu. — " Where goest thou 
she-goat?" " I go to the city " " If they permit 
thee, thou wilt go farther yet ;" — To persons whose 
forwardness requires checking. Nearly to the same 
purport as the English proverb ; — Give a rogue 
sufficient rope, and he will hang himself. 

HoZ xjTtdyia xaxh ruX'/i ; 's fou tfoXunxvov rov oJ- 
kom. — " Where goest thou bad fortune ?" " To 
the house of the man of many arts :" — To those 
who exercise many arts, and, having tfearned none 
perfectly, remain always poor. 

UooTaTii'ffuv Tcv Tuyouou. — He walks as a crab :— 
That is, His affairs go ill ; which is also expressed 
by one word, xaoxivoSanT. 

TLgotrxuva ya.p,£ei ! Yo\a, <roi a Qio;. — " Bridegroom, 
salute !" " May God be blessed /" — To a person 
who has been kept long in expectation, and whose 
patience has been put to the proof. 
736—743 



PROVERBS. - 113 

nciffwrowpivn asixivntria. — Perpetual motion per- 

sonified : — To a restless person. 
Tlra'ni o pcicprr,;, xcu Saigcvv <rov pay n go v. — The 

tailor is in fault, and they heat the cook : — To 

punishments which are not inflicted on the real 

offender ; or, as the English say, — The saddle is 

not put on the right horse, 
nrtgviffriguc py XuxriQus. — Kick not the spurs : — 

This puts us in mind of cxXngov aoi vrgo; xUrga. 

XaxriZuv in the Acts of the Apost. c. xxvi. v. 14. 

JEschylus also in his Prometh. v. 321 : 

Ouxovv, tftotyt ^cufjt.tvos Sio'ao'xuXco 
Hgc; xzvrga xuXov IxraiTs, oguv on 
l^ccftv; ftcvag%o$ ovh' v"7nC6uvo$ xgarsT. 

TLtuxos xcu vtf69i(&svo$. — Poor and honest: — To a 
man of integrity who, notwithstanding his poverty, 
is not tempted by a thirst after riches : a poverty 
which is often a title of honour, when the causes 
are independent of ourselves ; for, as Antiphanes 
has said : 

KaXw; tftvzff&ai ftakXov, n tr\ovri7v xaxu;. 

Pericles also says, in his funeral oration over those 
who had fallen in the first year of the Peloponne- 
sian war; (Thucyd. Lib. B'. § 40.) xa) ro <z'i- 
viff&ai ov% oftokcyiTv nvt ulo"%(>ov, aXkd f/M o*ia,- 
(ptuyuv z^yto, u'lff%iO'j. 

U-u%o; o n "Svvarai, vrkovtrtos o n SjXs/. — Poor 
what he can, rich what he will. 

Tlvppmtos icrogia. — Pyrrhonic doubt : — To those 
who doubt always, and believing nothing to be as 
it appears, never bring their opinions to any con- 
clusion. From Pyrrho the founder of this system 
of sceptical philosophy. 
744—749 



114 GREEK 

Tlu>s vrdv zoguKu, rci trcctoiu, cov ; o<rov txv, f/,u.v^i'Covv. 
— " Crow, how goes it with thy children 9" " The 
more they grow, the more they blacken /" — To those 
who advance in evil as they advance in years. 



Pa<prs tyXovi, oovkuu, va, (m aoZ Kiii^y. — Sew and 
unsew, that work may never fail you : — To a per- 
son without method, who, before finishing one thing, 
begins another, and then another, without bringing 
any one of them to perfection. %yi\ovw, from e| and 
•nko;, 

'Pi%nt virgiccis* — He throivs stones: — Used when 
one, in conversation, attempts to wound the feel- 
ings of another indirectly. 

'Puru (az va, ff\ para, va, Tfigvupiv tov tcuigov. — Ques- 
tion me, that I may question you, in order that we 
may put off the time : — To triflers, who spend 
their time in asking idle questions. 



^a,v utrrgwzry) to ^'z^i rov's rou tp'iXou ro *bia<iu,xt.-—H.U 
hand Jlies like lightning into his friend's walleb: 
—To those who, under the pretext of friendship", 
steal the property of their neighbours. 

2av Z,ov(>Xas <ro rv/^-rccvov. — As a fool, the drum, i. e. 
beats : — To incessant talkers. 

2«i/ x'/itprivai KiXuhJi.—He ivarbles like a drone: — 
750—756 



PROVERBS. 115 

To braggadocios ; — fellows with bold words, but a 
" plentiful lack of wit." 

2xv o ffy.u>.ko; '; rnv '7ri~oo%o>.ia.v. — Like a dog at 
the throwing of a stone : — To those who, instead 
cf their real aggressors, wreak their vengeance 
upon the innocent, as the dog attacks the stone in- 
stead of the person who throws it at him. 

2av rvs xovz.y.ouZsiiCi; to fuKtov. — Like the owl- 
bird : — Applied to unexpected good fortune. The 
owl, as we have said elsewhere, (See p. 70.) being 
a bird of good omen. 

2xv to yevpovvtov '; tyiv Xao-T'/iv. — As the pig, to 
the mire : — To those who constantly relapse into 
their old vices. 

2a^dvTa t ciXcyov, x l^yjvTtx, to (rci/Ltdstov. — Forty 
for the horse, and sixty for the saddle : — To per- 
sons of low extraction and without education, who, 
having acquired riches by a lucky hit, dress and 
decorate themselves in a manner unsuitable to their 
former condition. The author of this proverb con- 
demns, with much humour, the gross vanity of 
these persons, comparing them to horses of small 
worth, while he likens their rich dresses to the 
saddles that are wont to be put upon more valu- 
able animals. 

2l Tcc^aKaXaJ k lyco x' h ffxautpiu (tov Both I and 

ray cap pray you : — Used when a person, half in 
jest, half in earnest, insists upon one doing a thing 
which he evinces an unwillingness to do. 

2e to kiyu wdiooi, ^iu va t olkovc-' h vv$'/i. — / tell 
it to you, mother-in-law, that the daughter -in-laio 
may hear it : — It is sometimes best that children 
should receive counsel from third parties, and not 
directly from those with whom the instruction or 
reproof originates. 
756—762 



116 GREEK 

2'Zi/Ai^cv Ixiv^cafitv, xa) uvoiov, — Totruig tfcoftiv',— To- 
day we started, and to-morrow, — what day of the 
month is it ? — To those who, having embarked in 
any undertaking, begin thoughtlessly in the very 
outset to talk of its completion. 

2r,ftigov yA to'j avc/aov, xa.) atigtov fti rov ciyov^ov.— 
To-day with the wind, and to-morrow with the 
bridegroom ; — To those who, by committing ab- 
surdities in the vain hope of attaining some desired 
object, stupidly involve themselves in misfortune. 
The proverb had its origin among the country 
people in this way : A silly young woman was in 
the habit of annoying her mother by saying to her : 
" Mother, I want a husband, how long will you 
keep me unmarried ?" The poor mother, wearied 
by her folly, said to her one day : " Go to the 
balcony, and if you sleep there all night with only 
your shift on, to-morrow you shall have a proposal 
from a young gallant." The simple girl, who took 
the joke in earnest, failed not to do as she was di- 
rected, and while trembling with cold overnight, 
she kept muttering to herself these words : " To-day 
with the wind, but to-morrow with the husband." 
In consequence of this indiscretion she caught a 
pleurisy, of which she died. The Greek word 
ayov^ot, unseasonable, is the name by which the 
peasants designate a bridegroom, in reference to 
the early age at which they marry their children, 
which is truly out of season. In the same way 
the ancients called a young man before the age 
of marrying, ilwoos vgos ydpov. The word ayu- 
gtov, or uyogtov, boy, is derived from the same 
source. 

2if&ci tl; u/Avrzkiov tpvrtvi, cripa us %ut>&v xuro'ixcc.— 
Plant near a vineyard, reside near a town .-— 
763—765 



PROVERBS. 117 

It is of importance, not to separate one's self from 

the community. 
2if*.x us rce. £*iXiuu.iv» xa) h xaxist. — Where there is 

ought to be envied, wickedness is hard by : — To 

those who speak evil of virtuous actions. 
liwrS., Xvxo* itl-v. — He is speechless, he has seen a 

wolf: To persons rendered stupid by fear. 

Theocr. Idyll, to", v. 22, says also : 

Ou <Qdiy*n ; Xuxov ubz;, 

where his Scholiast observes : o-i »a6o ol otpHtrts 
lityvw uto Xuxov, ^oxodffiv uQuvoi yUzffSat. 

"Sxafivtou vroocioiv 'imffi' xpavinxo* '$ rov tovov. — The 
foot of the chair has fallen ; in its place put one of 
cornel-wood: — Used when an unpopular man has 
quitted office, and is succeeded by another more 
agreeable to the public. 

IxuXXtoi vXaxrovv, olotfooot tt-^ovv. — The dogs are 
barking, travellers are passing : — To certain signs. 

2xvXXo; oruv xuxof^aSr, u; to ftaxz'AXuov, v\ tov 
ffxvXXov vol ffxo-aff'A;, h to ftxXiXXuov va x&tzool- 
tpiffy;. — When a dog has learned bad habits in the 
shambles, either kill the dog, or throw down the 
shambles : — Used to denote the incurable nature 
of evil habits. 

1xaotxirf4.iv/i yXutrcu,. — Rusted tongue: — To those 
who say cutting tilings. In English : An ill- 
scraped tongue. 

~2,<7ra.oTr,'j sXa%£$, ^ttcZot'/jv xofffjs.it. — Sparta has been 
your lot, Sparta adorn : — This ancient proverb is 
used to signify that we should prefer the interests 
of our native place to those of every other, when 
we have any thing beneficial at our disposal. 

1rd% h u-ut'/i ffov yu.u.Zo'i' — u.-7to rov ^siiy.uja. — "Sen- 
in-law, your nose drops ;" " It is from the winter :" 
765 — 773 



318 



GREEK 



— To those who make specious excuses for then- 
bad habits. 
Iri^'/itri; aTraoaruv. — Privation of things not expe- 
rienced : — To a privation which is not much felt. 
From the sentiment of Thucyd. B'. § 44 : y.al 
}.u<T'/i av% &iv civ ris fm <riioao-u[jt.ivos uyuGav cti- 
oiffxvrcu, akX' cii av Ud; yi'/oyAvos -ayuizidiW,. 
JCenoph. also, Cyr. vii, says something similar : 
ob ydg to [An XccSuv <r uyaSu, ovtco %a,y.i-zov, Lc- 
<zig to kaZoi/Ta a , Ti^'/i$7 l va.i ku-T'/igov. and Isidor. 

Ep. 5, 144. KOU 0V% oIItOJ "kV<7f%i TO (Ml XTfjSiV, 

as h Tu'j vTroc^u'jTCdv ffTioYtci;. Liban. Orat. 
829. C. kv<zz7 ydo ob to ph yzuraffGai tuv x,i r <~ 

ffTUV US V\ /Jt,iTU T'/iV WiTgWs (TTiQViffiS' 

'2 TVs xvtqcis t6%viv.— To pot luck ; — i. e. To a 
family dinner. 

'2 to xaXadt oh %uou, x orav H.oifJt.a,Tat $lv Tguyu. 
— He cannot be contained in a basket, and, when 
he sleeps, he does not eat : — Ironically, when a per- 

' son is praised who has no real merit. 

'2 Toxagvh tvv 'ix> u ' — ^ e shuts her up in a -wal- 
nut : —Meaning, he is jealous of his wife. 

'2 to <Ta,kicrd<TovTo-o (&ov to ygcitpu. — I write that 
on my old shoe : — Meaning, I don't value what 
you say to me. 

'2 to ffvra.o'fji.ivo to aaxx), S-sXs/j /saXXs, S-s/U/j fm 

Into a holed sack, it is indifferent ichether you 
put in, or not : — It is needless to give to a spend- 
thrift. 

'2 tov xovtpov T',vj S-ugav, S-ikus ficigit, B-ikus ft*. — 
At a deaf man's door, it is all one whether you 
knock or not .- — Otherwise : '2 tov xeoQod tvv Bv~ 
gzv, htvtcc TTi^Tu-xoiTia.. — At a deaf mans door, 
knock five hundred times : — To those who are 
constantly striving after impossibilities. 
773—780 



PROVERBS. 119 

-rczZ-.: Zi'/.c'^ tyv^tVt fASffU s fcv a%vgcui!z, x o xoua- 
?.c%ifiu; txuf&e TcaXaGt va to fixkr,. — The blind man 
sought for a needle in a straw loft, and the man 
with a lame hand made a basket to put it in : — 
To men of gross stupidity. 

'2 tuv uptciorcos.ojv Tr,v %agctv aoixos zoiT'/i; HotCi^n.— 
In the land of sinners the unjust sits in judgment. 

Ivyvcc^rTi fit Ki>o ayiXata.. — I beg your pardon 
Madam Cow ; — To a person who mistakes one for 
another. A French gentleman, of an absent turn 
of mind, was passing along a public street, when a 
cow came up behind him, whose shadow caught 
his eye ; mistaking it for that of a lady, he con- 
ceived himself acting unpolitely in walking before 
her, and turning round he made a graceful bow, 
saying : " Beg your pardon, Madam ;" and hence 
the proverb. 

luxir/i Wty.ovcia,. — Fig-tree help : — Assistance which 
is feeble and of little avail ; the wood of the fig- 
tree being weak and brittle. 

1'jftTX ysr,a to fiovolavktov, hoffso vcl/J'/j to Ttrtav/.iov. 
— With one light in all, old woman, till the cha?i- 
delier with three lights come :— =It is proper that 
one should be content with small tilings, until di- 
ligence and good conduct have provided the means 
of more ample accommodation. 
SwoLyu toZ : 'Oxvov tt\v §<uftiy>ya, — He spins the rope 
of Ocnus : — Speaking of one who employs him- 
self on a work that will yield him no profit. Oc- 
nus was a rope-maker, whose ropes were chewed 
by an ass as fast as they were made. 
2vv ' A&'/ivu, xat zu*a x'u/ii. — With Minerva, move 
also thy hand: — We ought not wholly to rely 
upon others, but ought also to exert ourselves a lit- 
tle, to attain the object of pursuit. 
73 1—787 



120 GREEK 

"Swmiurt vcc. yiwirat, Sev u-royivircti. — What has he- 
come a custom, is not easily got rid of;—It is dif- 
ficult to change old habits. 

2yvT£»vs, xu,6w$ %\iv£i$. — In your own way, God- 
father : — To those who interpret in the wrong 
way advice upon economy. This proverb is op- 
posed to that which we have given p. 33, E;V ^vo 
<7. The history of it is this : A miser entertaining 
him who had stood god-father to his child, placed 
olives upon the table among other eatables. The 
guest made only one mouthful of each, notwith- 
standing their size ; which the miser observing, 
said : "In two or three, friend, the olive," Upon 
which the guest, instead of cutting the olive into 
two or three parts as the miser meant, began to 
put them into his mouth by two and three at a 
time. The miser seeing the rapid disappearance 
of his olives, hastily said, ffvvnxvi, xuSus y^ivot;. 

2v &£gi<ytkZ$ Iwbixa., za) a\ rgiavrai?. — You laugh 
at a dozen, and three dozen at you ; — To those 
who, though fit objects of laughter themselves, at- 
tempt to turn others into ridicule. 

~!2.voii o Xayo; tov Xzovru, fjt\ y^ovirov-i pu.p(/.a.— The 
hare draws the lion with a gold thread: — To 
venal rulers. 

2^a/w, Kovgi. — A string, a strap: — To persons of 
interminable loquacity. 



r aynifr^i x.urK<xti [a\ to y\(M.—He swallowed the 
jisk-hook along with the bait .-—The ancients used 
788—793 



PROVERBS. 121 

the same proverb thus : uyxi<rrgor ftird rr,; *«. 
gihos xaruxivuv. The French say also : Avaler 
V amorce et Vhamecon. 

Ta 2/»a pas ruiy yarovuv. — Our faults, those of our 
neighbours : — As the English adage : To measure 
another persons corn by our own bushel. 

Ta 6ixoL <rou ocftrikia <P£«£s, xeu to. %'tva, u.n yvozCr,;. 
— Fence your own vineyards, and covet not those 
of others, 

Ta Swa rrohia. ti; zv I'Xohny.a. — Both feet in one boot : 
— To those who, being extremely hurried, encoun- 
ter impediments in consequence of their eagerness. 

Ta s^oooi tov yifjcov pets 'h •jvptpvi Viv <r v<X,Qi>X,ii> — 
The bride is not worth the expense of our nup- 
tials : — When a man has taken much trouble to 
obtain that which, after all, is not worth his pains. 

Ta/j KaXaCgs^tzi; opotaZ^u;. — You are like the Ca- 
labrian girls : — That is, " You make your own 
eulogy ;" because it is said that in this province of 
Magna Grcecia, the young girls have a particular 
propensity to boast of their beauty. 

Ta xigvu; ; %ctvzi; rcc' roc %/>ia>ff7i7; ; vXn^ovn;. — 
Do you treat ? you lose it ; do you owe ? you pay : 
— To those who hope to mollify their creditors by 
giving them entertainments, but who, when the 
day of payment arrives, find their demands una- 
bated. 

T" cckcyov 'ttou %aoi?ouo-4 '; to. Vovria ph to fiX'tirr,;. 
— A given horse, look not at his teeth. 

T' akoyov to wX'/iya/uivov, a; 'ton rbv o-'i'kXa.v, rgz/xu. 
— The wounded horse, as soon as he sees the sad- 
dle, trembles : — To a man, who seeing an object 
that recals to his mind the sufferings he has for- 
merly endured, shrinks in terror. 
793—801 F 



122 GREEK 

Tec ftizga, $zv iihXis, ra, ptiyaXbt yvgzvt;, yvti^i tov 
%ito6f&uXov. — You would not the little ; you sought 
the great ; turn the hand-mill ! — To those who, 
abandon things suitable to their capacity, and by 
aiming at what is above it, come at last to the 
lowest employments. 

Ta.vra.Xo it }r^a. — Thirst of Tantalus : — An ancient 
proverb, to express desires which will never be sa- 
tisfied. It is regarding this thirst of Tantalus that 
Homer says in the Odyssey, xi, v. 581 : 

Kaw prrj Ta.vra.Xcv u<?i7$ev, %a,Xtvr ouXyi s%ovra, 
''EfruoT \v Xi'fivn' r> t\ <7rpo<ri'ffXttX !i i yivuM' 
2nvrc Ti "Stipcieov, Tiinv o' ovk i'l^iv ixitrdai. 

T* Tai^ia. r^uyovv ra. priXa,, sea) ei yzoovris f&oubm- 
Zjabi The children eat the apples, and the pa- 
rents' teeth are on edge : — That parents are often 
punished for the disorderly conduct of their chil- 
dren. 

Ta '<T<Jvpns, to, Z^it. — You desired them; you 
have found them .'—To a person who, having sought 
and obtained a thing, finds it attended by evils 
upon which he had not calculated. So says also 
Theocr. Idyll, i. v. 17. 

i%us TaXai tSv inzSupit;. 



T# toXXcc rif&avv rov uvtoa., xal iXiya. ttjv yvvaTxa. 
— Many things make the honour of the man ; feu; 
that of the woman: — Modesty, economy, and si- 
lence adorn a woman. If after to. -roXXa,, is un- 
derstood the word Xoyia, instead of w^u.ypa.ra.^ 
then the meaning is : Many zcords honour the man, 
902— SOd 



PROVERBS, 123 

and few the woman : — It may not be unaccept- 
able to young ladies to introduce here the senti- 
ment of Menander, regarding the powerful attrac- 
tion of their silence. 

(d'jya.r-AP Ivr'tyx/ao;, za.v oA&[? f&wzv XaX?, 

T' uoyvgiov (or <rov <xa.^a) fx.ou i^uza, va, a\ (pi.yu 
S-'iXnj. — My money (or my penny") I have given; 
to eat thee I resolve : — To one who is unwilling 
to lose the benefit of a thing for which he has 
paid his money. The story is, that a man intend- 
ing to buy some cheese, took by mistake soap in 
the place of it. Having discovered his error, he 
uttered the above words, and began coolly to de- 
vour his purchase. 

T* aff-z^a ra B-'iXa a.v6^wffo? B/« ryiv ficcvg '/lyi^a.— 
The man wants the money for the black day : — 
In the same sense as the English proverb : To lay 
up stores against a rainy day. The word aW^j, 
in the signification of white, may be derived from 
tttrtfiXos, and the substantive, «W««v, a farthing, 
from aff<ra.g<iv. The plural, aW^a, is used for mo- 
ney in general. 

T« ffToa,Sd ftas tfafMe&vgia, cat ^wca ipXeo^ia roe, 
ffid^ovv. — The golden zechins straighten our crook- 
ed windows : — Money covers many defects. 

Ta ffuxa, — y.7j}.oc, xai tcc [sJr,'ku.-—ffZx.u,> — The figs — ■ 
apples, and the apples-^figs : — To a skilful orator, 
who can represent matters as he chooses, and 
" make the worse appear the better reason." 

Tavguo; tv^'o;. — Ox-milk cheese : — To well-meaning 
persons who, endeavouring to discover the causes of 
806—811 



124 GREEK 

the repulses which they sometimes meet with, arc 
led by their inexperience and simplicity into real 
blunders. A peasant of Beam, having occasion to 
visit Paris soon after the accession of Henry the 
Fourth to the throne, brought, as a gift to his 
royal countryman, some cow-milk cheese, of a 
kind for which the king had in his early youth a 
particular fondness. Being refused admittance, 
and rudely driven from the gate by the porter, who 
jeered at his rustic simplicity, the poor man with- 
drew much disconcerted, and strolled about for 
some time under the windows of the palace, ab- 
sorbed in conjectures as to the cause of his disap- 
pointment. The king having recognized the cos- 
tume of his native province, sent for him, aud the 
delighted Bearnese presenting himself, deposited his 
simple offering, with much amiable clownisbness, 
at his sovereign's feet, saying, that he had brought 
his majesty some ox-milk cheese. When Henry, 
puzzled and amused, inquired his meaning, he re- 
lated the circumstances of his bad reception, ad- 
ding, that as he had been derided and beaten on 
stating his errand, he had hoped to avoid offending 
in future by denominating his humble present, Ox- 
milk cheese. 

lot, <pi{>zi h u^a., xgevos ^sv ra (ps^s/. — An hour brings 
what a year brings not : — An hour often brings 
forth events, which have not been witnessed for 
years. 

Tec, u; Viv S-i\us, yivovrcci, S-s>.« t«, xa.) a>$ yivovrai. 
— Things which happen as you do not wish ; ivish 
them even as they happen. 

Tm aXuToh Vzv rhv l^^s/sn h T^v-xa rris, i<rv(>*i xai 
xoXokvvOiov. — The hole could not contain the fox ; 
yet she drew along with her a gourd ; — To those 
811— 8H 



PROVERBS. 125 

who, while they have not sufficient for their own 
wants, pretend to patronise others. 

Trjv akdjxob tit(>etr<ra%af } xcci eclrn iTrootrrct^i <r«v ou- 
gay Tns. — Tney have ordered the fox, and she has 
ordered her tail : — To those servants who, by la- 
ziness, or the assumption of consequence, transfer 
the orders of their masters to the inferior domestics, 
instead of executing them in person. 

Tnv 'y'toccv ttiv ^cc't^u ro %a,\d^iov, u.brv\ c% t«v oii^ai 
t>jj Toy avrrfogov. — The hail heats the goat, and 
she keeps her tail high : — To those haughty per- 
sons who, notwithstanding all they suffer, abate not 
their pride. 

Tr t v Tuty'Twoa rriv 'ix.a.y.ot.'i (ha,trl\i<rira,, ?J alrn to, 
v ru X s v t oi X z. — They have made a Gipsy 
Queen ; and she, fa I lal la : — To the invete- 
racy of old habits. 

T>jy \a6nrd m? tU to 3-ukdziov rou. — He put her 
gown in his pocket : — To extreme absence of 
mind. In a city of Asia Minor, (Philadelphia, 
if I mistake not, ) a French traveller of great me- 
rit, but well known for this absence of mind, 
happened to be in a numerous and brilliant com- 
pany, where he attracted the attention of every 
one, as much by his agreeable conversation, as 
from the curiosity which he had excited in the 
inhabitants. A young lady, dressed in white, in 
order that she might hear him better, took a 
place beside him, and having moved with much 
rapidity, the trimming of her gown brushed a- 
gainst the worthy absent man, who perceiving 
something white, and imagining it to be his shirt, 
began, with much shame and confusion, by little 
and little to draw the dress into his pocket ; until 
at last, the young lady cried out, in alarm ; " Wha's 
SH— 818 



126 GREEK 

are you doing, Sir ?" This incident, which very 
much amused the parties present, gave rise to the 
proverb. 

Tr,v vvx-Td Xtt.fjt.TT^o?, rjjv '/ifAi^av ffx-oTZiyog. — In the 
night, brilliant ; in the day, obscure : — To those 
who, amoag the ignorant, are considered learned, 
and among the learned, ignorant. 

TJJ? y^yias Ton sVa/vav uvriQoQOs tov oii%vu.——The 
ascent shews the praise of the old woman : — By 
proof, we learn the value of persons, and how far 
the praise bestowed upon them is just. 

Tjjj ikuias to (jt/itru, xat tov xa^vbtov to s%ct>.'—The 
interior of the olive, and the exterior of the nut : 
— To those who make presents of things which are 
of no use to themselves. 

Tyjs vuxtos to, xafiufAaTu. to. jSXsVs/ hft-iQa. xoti y$Xa. 
— The day beholds the deeds of the night, and 
laughs : — Every thing, in order to be perfect, 
must be done in its proper season. 

Tws UyivskoTris to troivi. — Penelope's web : — To those 
who delude others by exciting hopes which they 
have no intention of gratifying. The word nav), 
is from <rwo:. 

Tyi; <pax.7J; tov fjtZSov kiytt. — He relates the fable of 
the lentil : — To those who eulogize trifles. 

Ti'iduxiy &$os, xat ti vol Isragjj Xdoos ; — What 
has God given, and what may Charon take ? — 
To very poor persons who have nothing to lose. 

Ti z%as Uavkt ; a ti u%ov 9rd,vTot ! — " What hast 
thou, Paul?" " That which I had always I"— 
To those who are always unhappy. 

T< 9-sj toL x'i'Kiu. vrigTiga, xat xuxoiiay] yvvouxoc, ; ra 
%i\ioi •Tr'i^Tiootr ititovv, yJ h z-azoudyi affO/AZVil ! — 
Why choose you a thousand zechins, and an ugly 
818—827 



PROVERBS. 127 

wife ? the thousand zechins fiy away, and the 
ugly wife remains /—Instead of xxxosf&ti by putting 
x.a.KoriSr,, itt-brought-up, the sense perhaps would 
not be the worse. To the same purport with this 
proverb, is also the following sentence of the co- 
mic poet Philippines : 

Altr^oav yvvatz lyn/au;, ukXa ^Xo'Jffiav. 
tLdSivl) dr,du;, rdiu; pa.ffuu.Vioc, 

Ti §U to %ou<ro dyyuov, xcu yd Qrns to at pa [tig a. ! 
— Why do you wish for the golden vessel, when it 
is only to spit blood into it ! — To a ridiculous and 
misplaced love of magnificence. 

Tipa rov %ojf)iurnv, dia. vd iKvdXn tov Xaip'ov rov.-— 
Honour the peasant that he may stretch out his 
neck : — To those who, being ignorant, and without 
knowledge of the world, have their heads turned 
with joy when they receive even ironical praise ; 
not being competent to judge how little it is suited 
to their merits. 

Tiva 2'3ovv, xai Viv '-rai^n ; viva Saigovv, xai Ss» Qiv- 
yu \ — To whom give they, and he takes not 9 
whom beat they, and he flies not ? — To those who 
receive, as well as do, the things most advantageous 
to themselves. 

Ti\ivou o fiXd^og, ri uvai ro ffQoyydrov ! — What 
does a Wallachian know what a sponge-cake is ! 
— To a person who, on account of his inexperience 
and ignorance, is an incompetent judge. 

Ti ffl Xi'tTU xaffffthtd^ri ; pagyaoirapzvia ffxouipta !— 
H What is wanting to you, man with the ring- 
worm ?' " A pearl-cap /"—To persons who, while 
possessed of little inherent merit, wish for brUlians 
dresses and external ornaments. 

To dyuyiov \\wxvdu rov uyuytdrni.r—The cart-load 
827—833 



128 GREEK 

awakes the carrier : — Every one is animated to la- 
bour by the prospect of reward. 

To aifAa vi^ov Tiv yivsrai. — Blood becomes not water ; 
— To those who are assisted by their relations, 
after being some time neglected. 

To ayJvy,rov vi^ov (hgufiuu.< — Stagnant water stinks : 
— To the injurious consequences of laziness. The 
word vzgov comes from v/igov, r damp. 

To akoyov vtokcctoj nrov ayuy'iox, > ,<rou ipotp&u.— The 
horse breaks down under his load: — To persons 
who overstrain themselves, from a sense of duty ; 
and, to those who suffer every thing for gain. 

To avrtSiov vTto rr,v urfdictv writfru. — The pear falls 
tinder the pear-tree : — To children whose conduct 
and manners, answer to those of their family. The 
Germans say also : Der apfel f'dllt nicht weit vom 
stamme. 

To uvgtov %\u fitoi/xvuv. — To-morrow, out of our 
care : — That is, one ought to content himself 
with what he has, and not trouble himself about 
the future ; for, in the words of Herod. Lib. r\ 
§ 65. If rn y/x.^ uv0(?ajvryi'i'/i (pvtru ohx, Ivtjy a^a. 
<ro ftzWov yivarSai a.^or^iTuv. Matth. ch. vi, v. 
34, says also : M*j ofiv ftigifjt.vrio'yiri it; <ryv aueiov. 
Racine has the same sentiment in view, in this pas- 
sage : 

Tant de prudence entralne trop de soin : 

Je ne sais pas prevoir les malheurs de si loin. 

I cannot say, however, that I was in the same 
humour of indifference to the future when I began, 
in the following terms, to parody an Ode of Chres- 
topoulos : 

833—838 



PROVERBS. 129 

'A?.?.' cifjca xai -xaff^'iZcti, 
T?,$ 7v%r,; uXka.yr,y. 

To trr,f/.$(>6V aQtvu, 
Kai r uuotov vgoxgiyu, 
'2 rou you //.on rhv poorr,v. 

To yooyov xu) %doiv s%n. — Quickness has also its 
grace : — In the same meaning as the English 
say, " A favour done quickly, is twice done." 
In an Epigram in the Anthology, the sentiment is 
thus expressed : uxiia.1 y^agiTis y\vxvT-^a.i. 

To youVi to yot3o%igi. — The mortar, the pestle: — 
To those who repeat always the same thing. Tov- 
lt from "yb~iov. 

To Vzvb(>ov f/.\ p'iu.'i vrO.zxiiolv Tsv xotyre&ai, — The tree 
is not felled with one stroke : — In the German : 
Mit einem hiebe f'dllt man keinen baum. 

To tbS-Avov xgiets to, oxuWiu to Tgaycvv. — Cheap 
meat, the dogs eat it : — To misers who always 
seek cheap articles, even though of inferior quality. 

To ^ojfiiov fy/tioiv §b xa(jt.yn. — The sauce does no 
harm : — It is better that there should be something 
superfluous than deficient. 

To S-zgos 'i-^aXki;, tov ^ii^uyu. %r,(>ivi. — In summer 
you sung, in winter you may dance : — To those 
who, instead of devoting their youth to intellectual 
and moral improvement, and their prime of life to 
honest industry, have spent both in vain and foolish 
amusements, and find themselves, at the approach 
of old age, beset by helpless poverty and want. 
The proverb is borrowed from the 134th fable of 
JEsop. 

ToiouTo; <pi\at, ToiavT/i 7rriTa,—As is the friend, so 
838—845 f 2 



130 GREEK 

is the cake : — To those who have been rewarded 
to the amount of their desert. 
To xaXo agv) jhvZ.eclvu o*vo ftuvadi;, to xaxo ovt? tw 
(lava. row. The good lamb sucks two mothers, the 
bad not even its own ; — Addressed to good or bad 
children. 
To xbcaov asrioiov, yov^ovviov rotpcfyi. — A. hog has 
eaten the fine pear : — Employed when a beautiful 
and accomplished lady has become the wife of a low 
and worthless husband. 
To xaXov VivSgov, oo-ov al^ocivu, r'offov vrXura'ivsi o 
la-xio; too. — The more the good tree grows, the 
more shade does it afford : — To persons of a good 
and generous disposition who, the richer they be- 
come, diffuse more abundantly the fruits of their 
beneficence. 
To xaXo to vraXXixaoi, \iv^u x aXXo [tovovraTt.— 
The brave warrior knows also another path : — 
To a man who never wants resources. The word 
ta.XXixa.oi comes from vraXXoj, and xcigci. 
To xi^os Bsv ibtp^a'ivu, otrov h ^nfjuia. Xvru. — Gain 
does not delight so much as loss grieves : — Which 
Libanius expresses thus : UiQvxiv clvfyco-xos ob% 
outws ivQ^aiviirHut xtfiaiycov, us aXytTv Zyfuovfttvos. 
To xg iocs (/.& tu. xoxxctXoc, ^uXutoh. — Meat is sold 
with bones : — To those who selfishly wish to select 
for themselves what is best, and to leave to others 
what is bad. The English say : " He that buys 
meat, buys bones; and he that buys land, buys 
. stones." In every thing there is some alloy. 
To xftas vow iU f*'av %UT(>a,y Vtv figoi&i. — Their 
meat docs not boil in one pot : — To persons who 
irreconcilably hate each other. 
To xgvlpov [taxgcoivu, xai us to (pavsgov ixQoLtvt 
The secret grows long, and at last spri?igs vp into 
845—853 



PROVERBS. 131 

the light : — This comparison of a secret to a plant 
making its way from the seed till it rise above the 
surface of the soil, is admirable for its beauty and 
justice. The ancients said in like manner : Oblh 
xgvvrrov, o ob Qavigov yiv/iffirai. 
To ftiyx xa^a&tov '£%u xa) pzyaXou; xiv^vvov;. — The 
great ship has also great dangers : — The higher 
in station, the more exposed to danger. 
To fiiydko -^xgi r^ayu to [iuxqo. — The great fish 

eats the little one. 
T' efAftdriov rov votxoxvgyi rgoQh r akoyov. — The 
master's eye is the food of the horse: — The mas- 
ter's affairs go on more prosperously under his im- 
mediate inspection, than when left to the manage- 
ment of servants. 
Toy aya^a; ; (iM ^avit^i' xa.) rov Trofai; ; y.n ffv- 
X^ a (,''' — T)o you love him ? don't lend him ; and 
do you long for him ? don't go too often to see 
him : — Do not lend money to one whom you love, 
for if he does not pay you, he will cause you much 
pain ; and do not go too often to see one whose 
company you desired, lest your visits become tire- 
some to him. 
Tov kya.Tta,? ; Ti^iuSoi^i' xa) rov fiio'tT; ; %atgira. — 
Do you love him ? reprove him ; and do you hate 
him ? salute him : — i. e. If you have a friend, ad- 
monish him when in fault ; if you have an enemy, 
treat him with outward civility. 
Tov «to y^a/u.fz.yji xm7 \\$ov. — He moves the pawn 
from the ( sacred j line : — hgas, sacred, being un- 
derstood. Meaning, he makes every effort to ac- 
complish a certain object. The proverb is found 
also in Theocr. Idyll. ?•'. v. 18. where his Scholiast 
observes, that it is a metaphor taken from those 
who play at a game called Zaroixtov, in which they 
853—859 



132 GREEK 

move the king (placed on the sacred line) when all 
the other resources of the game are exhausted, as 
the only hope of victory. 

Tov Siaxevocg'/iv Koppurtu,, »'«,) b'%i 9-i^a/j.— - Crumbs to 
the beggar, and not doors. 

Tov zto'tv o ©so? uirl i'rsjv xo<rxtvor^tJTa.v. — God has 
seen him through a sieve-hole : — Tauntingly , to 
persons of lofty expectations, who sink into insigni- 
ficance. 

Tov Ixgipcio'u.v ra %ov\icigii&. — They have hung the 
spoons upon him : — For a person who comes too 
late to dinner, so that, the rest having eaten up 
every thing, he finds nothing but empty dishes. 

Tov 3-zXovra fiovv 'i\uvvs. — Pursue the willing hei- 
fer : — i. e. Love her who loves you, and do not 
forsake her who encourages you, to pursue one who 
shuns you. Which Theocr. Idyll, to., v. 75, makes 
Polyphemus say, when seeking to console himself 
for his unrequited love of Galatea, thus : 

T«v <7ru,£io7fftt,v a/xtXyt' ri tov Qivyovra ^iu>xu$ ; 

Tov Xi'iTii ro Xoyyiokiov. — He has lost the gusset of 
his shirt : — To a person of a weak and shallow 
mind. English : " He wants twopence of the 
shilling." ' 

Tov Xvxov (ZXtTTof/Av, xa.) rv)v ovkviv yvgtvofitv. — We 
see the wolf, and we trace his footsteps : — To those 
who feign ; also to things that are evident. 

Tov Xvxov tov Izovetuuv' ah™? V 'i>.iyi, irkv to. T^d- 
ra. — They roere clipping the wolf, and he said, 
the sheep are gone : — To those on whose bad dis- 
positions misfortune makes no change, Yl^dra, 
which signified sheep of a certain age, is by the 
peasants used for t^«™. 

Tov Ma»v f/X yovvccv, net,) tov AvytvfTov [a\ xd.'Trai. — 
859—867 



PROVERBS. 133 

May with fur, and August with a mantis : — To 
those who pretend that their health is delicate, in 
order to render themselves the more interesting. 

Toy \ivov 's rr,v oikiccv ffou ug //.a^rvooc rov e%ti;.—~A. 
stranger in the house, you have him as a witness : 
— When strangers are with you, it is wise to act 
with studied propriety, lest they find something to 
say to your prejudice. 

Toy (rx,vkXov u%uget, y.ou rov yubotoov xoxxuXei, — To 
the dog, straic ; and to the ass, bones : — Applied 
to what is absurd. 

Toy ffx.vXXov itdfJLi ffvvrt%vov, y,ou ro pccSo'i <rov (lutrrcc. 
— Make the dog your companion, but hold fast 
your staff. 

Toy roil.ov xa.) ^u^idrnv, %ivoi w'ovoi rov ynoot^ouv. — 
Care about others makes the foot and clown groio 
old : — To those who, equally foolish and envious, 
torment themselves on account of \ the prosperity 
of others. 

To <ru.tb"iov u.v l\v x.Xa.uo"/}, p>vZ,iov Tiv ro liaovv. — If 
the child does not cry, they give him no suck :— 
In like manner, if a person has need of help and 
does not ask for it, he will probably expect it in 
vain ; a truth which is thus expressed in Matth. 
vii, 7. xgovirt, xcci kvoiyhcirm v(mv. 

To Toclh'iov oiv ithctpiv, kou 'Iwuvvtiv r uvof/.ao'af/.iv. — 
We have not seen the child, and we have called 
him John : — To those who confidently speculate 
upon uncertainties. 

To vu.1ifji.atht uvea (Lozyftivo ; — Is the biscuit steeped? 
— To a lazy person, from the fable told of one who 
was dying of hunger, and whom they- were in the 
act of carrying to his tomb ; some one came forward 
and offered him a biscuit, but asking if it was 
867—874- 



134 GREEK 

steeped, and receiving an answer in the negative, 
he said, " don't stop then, but carry me to my 
tomb." 

To toXu oyx.mii. — Too much blows up : — Talkative- 
ness is tiresome. 

To Toywgov •TTaXiov xa) u<ro to, %vo tfobiu. Vioivtrai. — 
A sly bird is often caught by the two feet : — The 
wicked, who plot against others, frequently fall 
themselves into unavoidable calamities. 

To TgoSarov oltto to xkirffiov row xgiparcti. — The 
sheep hangs by its own taper limbs : — To those 
who suffer by their own desire. Kkiro-'tov is the 
name vulgarly given to that quarter of the thigh 
of a sheep which gradually inclines or tapers into 
the slender and bony part of the limb ; very pro- 
bably from xkiffts, inclination. This gives a mean- 
ing to the original which it is impossible to ex- 
hibit in the translation, and upon which the pro- 
verb chiefly depends. 

To Tr^oSarov '{\ai tti$ xottyis, to Tguyu o kvxo;. — 
The sheep out of the flock, the wolf eats it : — : 
Those who separate themselves from the commu- 
nity are exposed to much danger and suffering. 

ToVov yffloL pi to figiyf/Avov, 'oaov xec.) f/X to //.ovtrxtv- 
ftivov. — As much, old woman, with drenching as 
with steeping : — To things indifferent. Movo-xiuat 
from fto<r%ivar. 
To ffra/tviov TokXaxi? us tm figviriv, xa) ftioiv o%i. — 
The pitcher f goes J often to the fountain, and once 
not .-—Good fortune does not always continue. 
To o-TgaZov t,uXov h V<n« to itrid^u. — The hearth 
straights the crooked wood .-—Punishment corrects 
the disorderly. 
Tov »xgi€ov to s%uv, lis %apoxoTov %zgia.— The 
874—882 



PROVERBS. 135 

wealth of a miser in the hands of a prodigal : — 
The miser has often a spendthrift for his heir. 
Tou $\oi%ov olv Bsv tou lircc^ouv to <rxia,}tov, Tiv ttXyi- 
(>'ovu to TiXuvtTov. — If they don't take the umbrella 
from the rustic, he will not pay toll: — To persons 
of rude and clownish manners who do nothing they 
are desired without compulsion. 
Tou \k'o<7W xovtov. — He has been cut short : — To a 

person of weak capacity. 
Tou xaxou xolioou to, vitp-/], «XX' itf&vu), ccXka. xxtw. 
— The clouds of bad weather, some are high, some 
low : — To troubles and disorders. 
Tou KctXou avBgoj r uXtvgiov XetkayxTrai axi xoX- 
Xou^xi. — The four of a good husband becomes 
pastry and cake: — To expensive wives who have 
simple husbands. 
Tou xXitfTou xtti tou Suvxtrrou xocOivas rob; Xi iu ~ 
ffruu. — To the thief and the man in power, every 
one has debts. 
Tou ovou fjtZBov iXiyocv, xa) c&uro; r alr'ta rov er«- 
ga£s. — They told a fable to an ass, and he shook 
his ears : — To a stupid person. 
Tou -zailiou xoikia xo(p'tvi, xou TgiXo; otou rou o^ivii. — 
The child's belly is a basket, and he is a fool who 
gives to him : — The desires of children are fre- 
quently improper, and ought not to be satisfied 
when they are misplaced or immoderate. 
Tou tolt^o; i'lvcci to Troaliov. — He is a child of his 
father : — To those who are recognised from their 
inheriting the virtues or vices of their parents. 
English : He is a chip of the old block. 
To vvroBufix us to tfobiov, xou o^t to <ro}/ov si; to uto- 
I'/ificc. — The boot to the foot, and not the foot to 
the boot : — Applied to things that are ill adjusted. 
Tou tfuXiou to yxka. — The milk of a bird: — To 
882—892 



136 GREEK 

those who are singularly fortunate j also to what- 
ever is rare. 



TauV i 



v/ira x 7i xu.vu.tu., /u, zxaftuv fjt,z tztoiwi «£- 



puTa. — This cake and this cask, have dressed me 
in this costume : — i. e. Have clothed me in rags. 
'A^ara, used here in ridicule, signifies properly 
an elegant dress. 

Tou ipgovifiov Mori/ta, x«) tou jSX«£«y tru^Hr/tcc. — A 
sign to the wise, and a whistle to the rustic ; — 
To persons of quick apprehension, or the reverse. 

Tay Xdgov viqov xovSu.'kii, — He carries water to Cha- 
ron : — To one who is always sickly. 

Tov 'Xagiaryi to tr^oiv) ?sv cruvzi, Trkqv oWA-at/v vrzgitr- 
fftun. — Single, the clown's rope is not long enough, 
double, it is too long. 

To tpiihi, av Tbv <pdyyi Qtih, tgdxog $h yivirai The 

serpent, unless it eat a serpent, does not become a 
dragon : — Bad men mount to a higher grade of 
wickedness and tyranny, when they have destroyed 
all their equals and their enemies. 

Ta %o(>ra<rriKov 'J/cof&iov avrivavrt to yvwgl^u.—I 
know the satisfying bread yonder on the opposite 
side : — To persons of acute discernment who per- 
ceive at a distance what is for their advantage. 

T' oipdgiov octo <T'/iv xi(pu.X*iv ag%i%si va (iguptviffy, — 
The fish begins to stink at the head : — Corruption 
often begins at the head of a government. See 
p. 12. 

TgdGu, pz, x ai x\u.'iu .*—Draw me, though I shed 
tears : — To those who pretend not to wish, what 
they are very anxious for, and to which they are 
forced with secret pleasure. 

TptiS riftigas zlv to 3-u.vfAa, xua Tgi7$ to <xa.£U.6uufiu,. 
— A wonder lasts three days, and three days a 
miracle : — The greatest novelties soon cease to ex- 
cite astonishment. 
892—901 



PROVERBS. 137 

Tgit; >.a>.ouv, xa) ^vo %ogsvovv. — Three speak, and 
two dance: — Applied to any thing absurd. 

Tgi%<x,, Xiyba,, 's rov Tuo-rov. — Run, slut, to the 
marriage-bed: — To persons who are favoured by 
fortune without deserving it. 

Tgo%o$ otov yv^'tZ,n, ffxu^ia, £sv Tidva. — A. wheel 
that turns, gathers no rust : — To one who, by 
continually changing his country, gives no oppor- 
tunity to any one to detect his faults and follies, 
or lay them to his charge. It may apply also to 
those who, in consequence of their instability, 
never attain to much wealth. In this sense the 
French say : pierre qui roule n amasse pas de 
mousse. 

TvtpXo; o*Eo&>;. — Love is blind : — That is, it ren- 
ders those blind who are under its influence, by 
making that appear beautiful which is often the 
reverse. Which Theocr. Idyll, t, v. 19-20, ex- 
presses thus : 

• rvtpKo? V ohx avro; o UXovros, 



AXXa. xou a) '(Pgovntrros "E^u;'- 



1 



Tvtpko; '; rov roi%ov axov/WTritrtj <rxoixn xorfto; Ssv 
r vaw. — A. blind man leaned against a wall, " this 
is the boundary of the world:" — To those who 
consider what is easy to be impracticable. 

T<£* axgiSeuv to, ffrafizvu., ff\ ^u^oxottov XH ta " — The 
riches of the miser fall into the hands of the spend- 
thrift. See proverb 882. 

T&/v AavafSav to -Trt&d^i. — The tub of the JDana'ides : 
— To a spendthrift who cannot keep a penny in 
his pocket. The ancients said in like maaner : a 
Tir^rifjt,i\ios ruv AxvatSuv <r't6os. In the same sense 
it is also said, viS&^i rgvirio, a holed tub. 
902—908 



138 GREEK 

Tuv xaXut Yivh^av xau o xagvos xa.ko;.-—Of good 
trees the fruit is also good ;-^-To the well-dis- 
posed. 

Tuv Qgovtfiuv rov; (rxovrovj to- yzi/ud t«v iZivpouv. — 
Their beards only know the schemes of the pru- 
dent : — The purposes of the wise are confined to 
their own bosoms. 



Yg^/j vigtv yivva. — Insult begets insult. 

"lloa.? xMpaXa; xottui. — You cutoff Hydra's heads : 
—To things impracticable. The origin of this 
proverb is quite manifest to those who know the 
labours of Hercules. 

"TX«» x^d^us- — You call upon Hylas : — To things 
which one loses without the hope of seeing them 
again ; and to those who call in vain upon persons 
who do not wish to hear them. This proverb is 
connected with mythology ; for Hylas, the favourite 
and friend of Hercules, going to draw water from 
a fountain, was laid hold of and detained by the 
Nereides who dwelt there. Hercules went in 
search of him, and called upon him by name "With 
all his might, but was unable to find him. 

'T-rsg <r« iffxufjLpiva. vrv^aig. — You leap over tilled 
land :—~ To those who, wishing to do more than 
they can, injure themselves in the attempt. 
'TTriyafitv »« ffxtd^ufAiv, xau pus \vraroiyw(ru.v. — 
We went to startle them, and they struck us with 
terror .--—To those who, sporting with persons 
more powerful than themselves, find that they have 
caught a Tartar. 
909—915 



PROVERBS. 139 

'TfftM5g£03£ fi.iya.Xn, fi.ix.Qov Ti'oyav — Great promise 
but small performance : — To those who promise 
much and do nothing. 

"imoiiri ft.au yvuiei;, va c i'i^ov ToZra. — Wisdom 
behind, if I but had thee before: — To repentance. 



o 



'■^xrt fi.x<ria ypeigi, xa.) xotkia, m^^oii.ov. — Eyes, eat 
fish ; and belly, the running rope of the net :— 
To those who are tantalized with the display of de- 
sirable objects, of which they are permitted to have 
no share. The proverb has its origin in the mean 
conduct of some men who, having acquired riches 
and at the same time being without the feelings or 
education of gentlemen, have at their table two 
kinds of food, one more nice and delicate for them- 
selves and friends, and another more ordinary and 
worse cooked for those who, sitting at their table, 
are compelled by their poverty to submit to such 
treatment. A parvenu of this character had, as 
tutor to his sons, a man of reputation, who not 
being disposed to submit to this treatment, ex- 
pressed his feelings in a comical manner. Having 
seen some large plump fish served up to the mas- 
ter, and to himself and some others a tureen full of 
soup in which were a few small fishes, he began to 
undress himself, saying to the servant, take off my 
clothes ; and being asked by the master, what he 
was going to do, he replied, "lam going to plunge 
into the soup, I may possibly catch a larger fish ;" 
saying which, he rose and quitted the house. 

•fnvyu, V«v o Aid.Zo\o; uto t« S-vfAta/uu. — He fixes 
916—919 



140 GREEK 

as the Devil from the incense : — To those who 
have an aversion to the society of respectable per- 
sons. 
iikt ftou '$ tjjv uvayxyv (t-ou, x \x$S} ( Jbov *S T ^ v X a " 
(>d.v f&ov. — My friend, in my need, and my enemy, 
in my joy : — i. e. My friend, I wish to see thee in 
my need, &c. The first from the ancient maxim : 

4?/?.a< lv uvciyxai; iffTuffav xgytrifioi. 

to which we may add very appositely that senti- 
ment of Eurip. Ores. v. 725 : 

Hi<rro$ lv xaxoTs uvhg 

Kgsitrtrav yocXm^s vavriXotffiv ucrogxv. 

The second, because envy pierces the heart. 

i'tkoi va tifliSa, xa.) ra tfovyytu. pa; va fxakXovsvv.— 
Let us be friends, but let our purses be at va- 
riance : — A joint concern in matters of interest 
frequently gives rise to coldness among friends and 
relations! 

&o£i7rai xa) rov 't'trxiov rov.-—He is afraid even of his 
shadow : — To great cowards. 

$v(fis <r»jv (fivffiv xvvnyu, x h yu.ru, to vrovrixi.— 'Na- 
ture follows nature, and the cat, the mouse : — To 
natural attachments. 

$uvbv, xau o%i aXko. — A voice, and nothing more : 
—To those who are useful for one thing only. 
This proverb is taken from the fable which re- 
lates, that a sparrow-hawk, hearing a nightingale 
singing very sweetly, flew on it, and caught it. 
On beginning to take off the feathers he saw that 
there was very little flesh on it, on which he called 
oat, A voice, and nothing more. 
919—924 



141 



X 



XaS/a avaXara, xovzia, fyiyftkva. — Insipid caresses ! 
(it is because he wishes) steeped heans : — To those 
who decline what is offered them, but in such a 
manner as to make it plain that they are anxious 
to accept. With respect to the word xaSia, see 
Appendix to my Modern Greek Grammar, Bos- 
ton, 1828. p. 88. Note 4. 

"Kafiivai vvodiffii;, orav o tij '$ tov aWov $y.i<ru.-*— 
Affairs are lost, when one stands looking at an- 
other : — We ought not to trust to the carefulness 
of others, when the public good is concerned, for, 
if every one did the same, the public interests would 
go to ruin. Thus I&ocr. Nicocl. says : el f*h ttoX- 
Xav x.et.ra.fjt.tXovo-iv lis a,\k'/iXau$ aTo£hi<rov7<;. The 
French have also a proverb which corresponds to 
this : c'est Vaffaire de tout le monde, ce n'est V af- 
faire de personne. 

Xd^iv uvr) %cigiro$.. — Favour for favour : — Soph. 
also in his Ajax, v. 522, says : 

Xdgis xccqiv yd.(> Itrriv h Ttxroutf a.u. 

Which, however, does not always happen ; as Boi- 
* leau, in an Epigram, exemplifies thus : 

" Je l'assistai dans l'indigence, 

II ne me rendit jamais rien. 

Mais, quoiqu'il me dut tout son bien, 

Sans peine il souffrait ma presence. 

O la rare reconnoissance !" 

Xdgtv \vht, ykvxov V«v fii^i, — Vinegar for nothing 
925—928 



1 4*2 GREEK 



is sweet as honey : — To those who receive with 
gladness a present, however small it may be. 

Hugos fov Taguzeiku, ecvro; $z xctftupovzL— Charon 
invites him, and he eyes himself with pride : — To 
a sick person, who is not aware of his dangerous 
condition. 

Xeigwios 3-ugx. — Charon's door; — i. e. The door 
that leads to Charon. To an object of terror. 
That name was given to the door by whioh con- 
demned criminals were led out to execution. 

Xdo-KH V«v o kdgo$ — He gapes like a sea-gull :— 
To a great eater. 

Xz7(> xuoa- U9rrii, ^dxrvXo; rz ^dxrvkov. — Hand 
washes hand, and finger, finger ;— An ancient 
maxim, used now in a proverbial way to express a 
reciprocity of services. 

X'ikia. va mdo-n 3-iku. — He wishes to catch eels .— 
To those who, for their private advantage, create 
disturbance and tumult in cities. Those who fish 
for eels must trouble the water, otherwise they 
cannot well succeed. 

Xiktat vvf&Qui rou yttftSgov, net) %ikiot yafi^^o) rr,s 
vvftQris. — A thousand brides to the bridegroom, 
and a thousand bridegrooms to the bride : — To 
those who choose many things, and enjoy none. 

XiXiac x,k-/,p.ura., Vina ffroctpvkioi. — A. thousand shoots, 
ten grapes ; — To things that produce no profit. 

Xt'oTYii sto-ai. — : You are a Sciot : — In the same sense 
as they say in France : vous etes un Gascon ,• the in- 
habitants of the island Scio having the reputation 
of being lively ar.d humorous, and being remarkable 
for their repartees. 

Xovu vpo^aka., xai b&G'dkXSi yidfinku.. — He planted 
pebbles, and took up potatoes : — To those who find 
a livelihood, where others would starve. 
928—937 



PROVERBS. 143 

Xiorenrfiivs? o TdTa;, ^oorccirfiW h Tuvrethict, ffTgu- 
<xri v« Kkct.yta,ffw[Aiv. — The priest being filled, the 
priestess being filled, prepare the bed that we may 
go to sleep : — To those who, fortunate themselves, 
believe and judge others to be in a prosperous 
state. It resembles the 69Sth proverb. 

Xovirw xoouvvs A golden knob: — A proverbial ex- 
pression, borrowed from Homer's Iliad, S'. v. 11 J : 

Ilav 5' ii> t.avvct;, XQveinv \'7Ti6r,tci xoga*r t v. 

employed to signify the happy termination of an 

affair. 
Xii^l: \v\o)i, [jly$ u$ T'/jv 3-voa.v. — Without a staff, 

not even to the door :^-A man ought not to leave 

his house without reflecting maturely what he is 

going to do. 
Xtuo); -rxd>sv o\pdojov Bsv xidvirai.— -Without a bait 

fish is not caught : — To those who will do nothing 

without a bribe. 



■*" 



^"dXks, VzcrfoTa, <r h6%i [lov OravsTi — Sing, reverend 
sir, " my nail pains me : " — To those who feign 
suffering with a view to obtain some advantage. 

'Vw avycv, or/ 'twice i1fAi9a Roast an egg, because 

there are nine of us : — To a foolish and miserly 
person, who invites a numerous party to a repast, 
and regales them so poorly that they rise from table 
half satisfied. 

"i'oQneiv o f^aZooi fiou, ^^rdoto'j f&h (pvrowffy. — My 
donkey is dead, let no more grass grow ;— To an 
egotist. 

938—944 



144 GREEK PROVERBS. 

Vuxgori£es xai otxrgoTtgo; lu.\ipov. — More frigid 
and dolorous than Jalemus : — Jalemus, son of 
Calliope, was the author of 6ome cold and insipid \ 



iia.ro.. — A mangy camel bears the load of many 3 
asses : — To those who, though old, surpass in 
every respect many young persons. 






n 



■ :> 



±lf£0g<pi fi,ov, xat xa,\z pot), Ye; fit Titfori vcc tpdyoj. 
— My beautiful, and fine man, give me something 
to eat : — To men who are very handsome, but, at 
the same time, very poor. 
"Uftogtpos vopigii vx ^vcci. — He thinks himself hand- 
some : — To signify that he is blinded by self-love. 
Solon has very well observed upon this : 

"AkXo; %uko; lav, a,ya.6o$ toitiilfjbu.iva.t u,vr,£, 

'P.trdv o Tpdyos tl? *nv Kavviyvgiv. — As the goat to 
the festival : — To those who come a propos; from 
an ancient story of a goat, which having quitted 
its flock and wandered from place to place, came 
into a village where the inhabitants were celebrat- 
ing a festival. They laid hold of it and offered it 
up as a sacrifice to the gods. 

*£l$ o ycctct^o; vrgos tyiv Xv^av. — As the ass to th&i 

lyre : — To those who are insensible and indifferent 

to what is useful and beautiful ; as in some parts of* 

France they say : comme Vane qui lit la gazette. \ 

9+5—950 

THE END. 



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